Jerez day 1 test times

The MotoGP teams began the final pre-season test at Jerez today ahead of the eagerly awaited 2007 MotoGP Championship which begins with the Grand Prix of Qatar in two weekend’s time. The changeable weather and resulting variable track conditions limited the amount of useful time available to the teams today, though better weather is expected for later in the weekend. Marco Melandri turned the day's fastest lap.

Thanks to the rain which fell intermittently until lunchtime, newly crowned World Champion Nicky Hayden had a slightly frustrating day. Having missed the last test here in November and with the track never fully drying out today, the 25-year-old American star didn’t feel totally comfortable and wisely elected to hold back from being totally committed. Hayden recorded a best laptime of 1m 45.901s, completing 63 laps and is confident of improvements tomorrow.

1. M. Melandri 1m 42.563s
2. C. Stoner 1m 42.634s
3. D. Pedrosa 1m 42.706s
4. C. Checa 1m 43.206s
5. A.Barros 1m 43.214s
6. R. De Puniet 1m 43.315s
7. L. Capirossi 1m 43.475s
8. A. Hofmann 1m 43.673s
9. T.Elías 1m 43.687s
10. S. Nakano 1m 43.817s
11. C. Edwards 1m 43.845s
12. C. Vermeulen 1m 44.052s
13. V.Rossi 1m 44.494s
14 O.Jacque 1m 44.659s
15. M. Tamada 1m 45.081s
16 S. Guintoli 1m 45.208s
17. V. Guareschi 1m 45.603s
18 S. Ito 1m 45.826s
19. N. Hayden 1m 45.901s
20. K. Roberts 1m 45.937s
21 K. Akiyoshi 1m 47.191s
22. J. McWilliams 1m 47.696s
23. A. Pitt 1m 49.365s