MotoGP’s first free practice at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway saw Casey Stoner take away the top the timesheets from his Repsol Honda team mate Dani Pedrosa - who lead most of the session - with his final two runs of the morning The Australian lapped in 1:41.925 and was the only rider to be able to dive under the 1.42 barrier while Pedrosa was 0.181 adrift on the damp and unrubbered track (it rained yesterday evening).
Nicky Hayden and Ben Spies were third and fourth respectively in what they consider their home race and the last two riders to be within a second from Stoner. Stefan Bradl was fifth fastest and his team is debuting a new Red Bull livery for this second American round. Alvaro Bautista took sixth with his San Carlo Gresini Honda.
Cal Crutchlow - who confirmed that he’ll not be riding a red Ducati next season - fifteen minutes into the session crashed in the third sector and got up holding his right shoulder, but the Yamaha Tech3 rider was able to return to action for the final fifteen minutes and he finished in a decent 7th compared to his struggling team mate Andrea Dovizioso who will be Ducati’s factory rider next season (it should be announced this weekend) was only 11th.
Jorge Lorenzo was surprising only 8th and 1.387 seconds off pace from the Honda duo, while Valentino Rossi was his usual 9th, but his main bike seemed to be suffering from some sort of technical issue that saw his mechanics search twice underneath the fairings.
Hector Barbera returned to action 26 days after breaking his tibia and fibula, but the Spaniard lost control of his Ducati following Nicky Hayden. He touched the slippery kerb with his rear tire and the bike reared around flinging him off and slamming him hard on the asphalt causing him to hit his head. He had to be stretchered off track, he was conscious and lamenting chest and neck pain - the session to be red flagged.
Yonny Hernandez wishing his mother Happy Birthday was the fastest CRT rider in 12th followed by Aleix Espargaro. Karel Abraham who will be riding a ART next year according to Carlo Pernat was 14th with his satellite Ducati.
The two wild cards Steve Rapp and Aaron Yates on their Kawasaki and Suzuki CRTs were 20th and 23th respectively and they were already inside the 107% qualifying barrier thanks to the private test that they held last week.
MotoGP Indianapolis FP1 results:
01- Casey Stoner – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC213V – 1’41.925
02- Dani Pedrosa – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC213V – + 0.181
03- Nicky Hayden – Ducati Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP12 – + 0.547
04- Ben Spies – Yamaha Factory Racing – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 0.611
05- Stefan Bradl – LCR Honda MotoGP – Honda RC213V – + 1.102
06- Alvaro Bautista – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC213V – + 1.270
07- Cal Crutchlow – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 1.370
08- Jorge Lorenzo – Yamaha Factory Racing – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 1.387
09- Valentino Rossi – Ducati Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP12 – + 1.420
10- Hector Barbera – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP12 – + 1.811
02- Dani Pedrosa – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC213V – + 0.181
03- Nicky Hayden – Ducati Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP12 – + 0.547
04- Ben Spies – Yamaha Factory Racing – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 0.611
05- Stefan Bradl – LCR Honda MotoGP – Honda RC213V – + 1.102
06- Alvaro Bautista – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC213V – + 1.270
07- Cal Crutchlow – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 1.370
08- Jorge Lorenzo – Yamaha Factory Racing – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 1.387
09- Valentino Rossi – Ducati Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP12 – + 1.420
10- Hector Barbera – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP12 – + 1.811
