Fiat Yamaha's Valentino Rossi is happy to have taken first blood in this morning's initial MotoGP free practice at Motegi, lapping just half a tenth faster than arch-rival Casey Stoner.
The Italian set a 1'48.525 lap in comparison with Stoner's 1'48.601 but reckons that being at the top of the timesheet is better because he and his team aren't very keen on second place.
“This is a very good start because we’re at the top and this is very important! The conditions today were hard and it was difficult to reach the limit and work to the maximum with the bike and tyres, but it looks like we have a good potential here so I am happy," said The Doctor.
"It’s important to be in front, even though it’s only Friday, because in Qatar we were second in every session and really we don’t like second so much; for sure first is much better! Tomorrow it seems it may rain but we haven’t had the chance to try the new Bridgestone rain tyres yet so I think that this could be an important chance for us to understand how they are. It will be interesting and I hope they are good!”
Click here for practice times
