"Pedrosa continues Catalunya pace "

The pilot fastest in opening practice session, Dani Pedrosa made a clean sweep of the two MotoGP races Friday at the Circuit de Catalunya to further improve their times in the afternoon.

The Spanish began preparations for the race of his house with a 1'43 .017 lap of the difficult track in Barcelona, which caught out half the 18-rider field in one way or another.

Pedrosa was one of the participants to take a fall, hitting its standard engine power Repsol Honda RC212V with just over ten minutes to go in the second session, immediately after clocking the fastest time of day. The result unhurt in the accident.

Second fastest in the combined classification was Loris Capirossi, continuing its recovery in the form aboard the Rizla Suzuki GSV-R. The trailer Pedrosa by just 0006, with the first four covered by less than one tenth of a second. Capirossi ran track twice in the afternoon run.

The rest of the first four were cited Fiat Yamaha Valentino Rossi and Ducati Marlboro Casey Stoner, after a day for both corridors. Rossi attracted attention for its special `Azzurri 'livery themes and skins, while Stoner had problems with the principles of the runway that led to the crash of its operation and output in the morning.

Alex de Angelis maintained its momentum Mugello with the fifth fastest time, ahead of Chris Vermeulen Rizla Suzuki man and his own San Carlo Honda Gresini team Shinya Nakano. Learning Circuit de Catalunya, James Toseland was eighth fastest, while the top ten was completed American duo of Nicky Hayden and Colin Edwards.


The biggest fall occurred in the afternoon Jorge Lorenzo, local pilot and World Championship contender. The clash with the floor of a highside at an altitude lower than that of its spill Shanghai, but its momentum for a bumpy trip across the gravel trap. The Fiat Yamaha man was taken to the Clinica Mobile and took anywhere else in the afternoon session, with the latest news on his condition indicating a broken right ring finger and an ankle contusion.

Another rider John Hopkins was stopped early, which ended just a handful of laps before a highside on his Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR, while Randy de Puniet took his second shock of the day in the afternoon excursion.



Lorenzo to miss home Grand Prix


Jorge Lorenzo will lose his home Grand Prix in Barcelona this weekend after an accident this afternoon in free practice.

The Spanish lost the front part of his M1 to turn 11 just four laps in the afternoon session and fell into the gravel before being stretchered off and taken to the clinic circuit. After undergoing an initial check-up on the track, which confirmed that there are no further injuries in the fractured ankles that in China, the decision was made to take him to a hospital in Barcelona for further examination.

Doctor Xavier Mir Dexeus Institute at the University of Barcelona said: "I can confirm that Lorenzo may not compete this weekend after doing tests here at the Institut Dexeus have confirmed the following injuries:

"1. He suffered head injuries and lost consciousness. We performed a neurological examination with a CT and an MRI and we can confirm that there is no haemotoma cranial or haemorrage. Now, however, must remain under observation between 48 and 72 hours to see how it develops.
2. The sustained an injury to the 4 and 5 finger in his right hand, where it has lost a little skin. It also has an abrasion of the extensor tendon. We have to see how it develops this could be possible but it needs a little skin grafting.
3. Other multiple bruises and grazes. "

Team Manager Daniele Romagnoli added: "Unfortunately today Jorge suffered another accident and it is clear that luck was not with him at this time.
This morning we had a good session and things iban muy bien, we found a good starting point established that the work and we were very happy with our progress. Then this afternoon began well but unfortunately, after four laps we had another accident, when George lost the front in turn 11. IBA 130 km and it is quite fast accident, but checked the data and we can not see that he made no mistake. We were trying different bicycle tires and the establishment of the morning and he felt very happy about how things iban so it's a great pity. Fortunately, he is to avoid any injury to their ankles, but the head injury means they must undergo a period of rest and take no risks. We are very disappointed by Jorge, but the important thing now is that he has some rest and takes time to recover properly. "