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HOPKINS HEADS BRIDGESTONE TREBLE TOP AT MOTEGI Suzuki rider John Hopkins set the fastest time during a day of free practice dominated by local tyre manufacturers Bridgestone at Motegi on Friday. The first day of the Grand Prix of Japan saw Hopkins follow up his impressive qualifying performance from last season, when he lined up on the front row of the grid for the only time in his career, with a lap of 1’47.952, over half a second inside the lap record held by Makoto Tamada. “Suzuki have brought some new parts here, and added to that Bridgestone seem to have an excellent race tyre so I am confident of sticking the race out at the front,” said Hopkins, who was one of six riders to crash in the first corner of last year’s event here. “I am really looking forward to Sunday because I think can go well and I’m feeling confident of getting on that podium at last. The last two years at this track haven’t been good for me here but hopefully that can all change.” Loris Capirossi celebrated a newly signed one-year contract with Ducati with the second fastest time of the day after dominating for much of the afternoon session. Meanwhile Hopkins’ team-mate Kenny Roberts was almost as impressive, lapping just 0.311 seconds short of the youngster’s best time as he looks to convert some impressive wet performances earlier in the season into a dry result at a crucially important home race for Suzuki. Valentino Rossi was the fastest rider on Michelin tyres, the World Champion clocking the fourth quickest time overall ahead of Sete Gibernau and Nicky Hayden. Rossi could retain his title this weekend and will be satisfied with his form today as none of his direct championship rivals were able to record a faster lap time than the Italian. Although Rossi has won each of his previous premier-class world titles with a victory, a similar result to today on Sunday would guarantee championship honours for the fifth successive season. Max Biaggi was seventh fastest at the circuit where he celebrated victory two years ago riding the Honda RC211V, whilst last year’s winner Makoto Tamada could only manage ninth place behind Marco Melandri. Alex Barros, who took victory here in 2002, completed the top ten ahead of Colin Edwards, Carlos Checa, Tohru Ukawa, Alex Hofmann and Shinya Nakano. There was a dramatic start to the weekend for the 250cc class as current series leader Dani Pedrosa crashed out of both the morning and afternoon sessions, injuring his left wrist. His Honda team-mate Hiroshi Aoyama made an exciting start to his home Grand Prix, meanwhile, taking provisional pole position ahead of Alex de Angelis and his brother Shuhei, who was third fastest. Andrea Dovizioso completes the provisional front row at a circuit where he celebrated a clear victory in the 125cc race last season. Sebastián Porto, Jorge Lorenzo, Casey Stoner and Yuki Takahashi make up the second row, with Takahashi’s younger brother Kouki provisionally qualifying in 28th place. Mika Kallio sent out a warning shot to 125cc World Championship leader Thomas Lüthi with the fastest time in the first qualifying session for the minor class, clocking a best lap of 1’59.137. KTM rider Kallio was over half a second faster than nearest challenger Marco Simoncelli, with former World Champion Manuel Poggiali and Mattia Pasini completing the provisional front row. Lüthi provisionally qualified in tenth place as he aims to defend an eight-point lead at the top of the standings.
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