Edwards Tops Jerez Practice
Added on Friday, March 28th, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor
Edwards finished 0.114secs faster than world champion Casey Stoner (Photo: Yamaha Racing)
Colin Edwards recorded the quickest time in free-practice ahead of Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez, 0.893secs ahead of British Tech 3 Yamaha teammate James Toseland.
The American clocked a time of 1:40.714 on his 19th lap to edge out world champion Casey Stoner by 0.114, who posted the second fastest time of the session.
The result is still a positive one for Stoner however, who is yet to stand on the podium in Jerez after a fifth-place finish last season.
British rider James Toseland, who is suffering from a heavy cold, also found himself off the track as he ran wide onto the grass on the approach to the Curva Sito Pons.
Valentino Rossi finished third fastest despite holding the fastest lap earlier on in the session whilst Nicky Hayden, riding a 2008 Honda for the first time in competitive racing this season, posted a very encouraging 1:41.182 to finish in fourth.
Rossi’s teammate Jorge Lorenzo, who won at Jerez in last season’s 250cc championship, finished fifth in front of his home crowd.
R2 Jerez Free Practice Official Times
1: Colin EDWARDS (Tech 3 Yamaha) - 1:40.714
2: Casey STONER (Ducati Marlboro) - 1:40.828 (+0.114)
3: Valentino ROSSI (Fiat Yamaha) - 1:40.918 (+0.204)
4: Nicky HAYDEN (Repsol Honda) - 1:41.182 (+0.468)
5: Jorge LORENZO (Fiat Yamaha) - 1:41.371 (+0.657)
6: Andrea DOVIZIOSO (JiR Team Scot Honda) - 1:41.378 (+0.664)
7: Dani PEDROSA (Repsol Honda) Team - 1:41.419 (+0.705)
8: Chris VERMEULEN (Rizla Suzuki) - 1:41.443 (+0.729)
9: Alex DE ANGELIS (San Carlo Honda Gresini) - 1:41.579 (+0.865)
10: Shinya NAKANO (San Carlo Honda Gresini) - 1:41.599 (+0.885)
11: James TOSELAND (Tech 3 Yamaha) - 1:41.607 (+0.893)
12: Loris CAPIROSSI (Rizla Suzuki) - 1:41.746 (+1.032)
13: John HOPKINS (Kawasaki Racing) - 1:41.944 (+1.230)
14: Marco MELANDRI (Ducati Marlboro) - 1:41.980 (+1.266)
15: Anthony WEST (Kawasaki Racing _ - 1:42.300 (+1.586)
16: Randy DE PUNIET (LCR Honda) - 1:42.454 (+1.740)
17: Sylvain GUINTOLI (Alice Team Ducati) - 1:42.868 (+2.154)
18: Toni ELIAS (Alice Team Ducati) - 1:43.206 (+2.492)
