Estoril MotoGP: Capirossi on top in FP3

Loris Capirossi (Pramac Racing Team) set the fastest time in the final practice session this morning on the drying track at Estoril. The Italian finished ahead of Yamaha Factory Racing rider Jorge Lorenzo and Ducati Team rider Nicky Hayden on a track still damp from overnight thunderstorms.

Valentino Rossi (Ducati Team) was close behind Hayden to take fourth and he held off Casey Stoner who was fifth fastest, finishing ahead of fellow Respol Honda Team riders Dovizioso and Pedrosa.

Depsite a consistently fast performance in yesterday’s practice sessions, Simoncelli (San Carlo Honda Gresini) could only manage ninth, finishing the session behind LCR Honda MotoGP rider Toni Elias.

Cal Crutchlow put in few laps, whilst sole Rizla Suzuki rider Alvaro Bautista, who is recovering from a broken femur, did not venture out in the session, taking no risks ahead of qualifying. 

1. Loris Capirossi ITA Pramac Racing Team 1m 44.515s
2. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Yamaha Factory Racing 1m 45.079s
3. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Team 1m 45.955s
4. Valentino Rossi ITA Ducati Team 1m 46.481s
5. Casey Stoner AUS Repsol Honda Team 1m 47.676s
6. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda Team 1m 47.849s
7. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team 1m 48.102s
8. Toni Elias SPA LCR Honda MotoGP 1m 48.140s
9. Marco Simoncelli ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1m 49.117s
10. Randy De Puniet FRA Pramac Racing Team 1m 50.896s
11. Karel Abraham CZE Cardio AB Motoracing 1m 51.497s
12. Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1m 51.611s
Ben Spies USA Yamaha Factory Racing 1m 52.111s
Hector Barbera SPA Mapfre Aspar Team MotoGP 1m 52.704s
Hiroshi Aoyama JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini 1m 53.670s
Cal Crutchlow GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1m 53.872s
Alvaro Bautista SPA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP –