MOTOGP NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA
15 September 2006 - Moto GP

GMC Australian Grand Prix - Friday 15th September

De Puniet springs a surprise on first day at Phillip Island

Whilst a steady stream of fans were treated to various exhibitions and presentations at the Phillip Island Circuit today, including autograph sessions and talks given by some of the most influential figures in MotoGP, the undoubted crowd-drawer was an exciting day of practice sessions for the GMC Australian Grand Prix.

There was a surprise in the afternoon session as French rookie Randy de Puniet topped the timesheets for the first time this season. The Kawasaki rider’s 1’29.745 time was the only lap under the 1’30 mark and took him faster than Loris Capirossi, Nicky Hayden, Sete Gibernau and team-mate Shinya Nakano. The Ducatis were fastest in the morning’s opening practice after a stellar start for tyre manufacturers Bridgestone on Australian soil.

Local rider Casey Stoner was unable to beat his morning’s fastest lap in the afternoon and he rounded off the top six on the combined time sheets for the day. Marco Melandri and Valentino Rossi were somewhat discreet in seventh and eighth respectively, ahead of Kenny Roberts Jr and one of last year’s impressive performers, Carlos Checa.

Chris Vermeulen could only manage 14th at his home circuit, whilst Dani Pedrosa limped home in 16th, two seconds off the pace, as he continued to struggle with a knee injury sustained in Malaysia last week.

Jorge Lorenzo stamped his authority on preparations for Sunday’s 250cc race with provisional pole position in the first qualifying session. A lap of 1’33.215 was enough to take the Spaniard to the top of the timesheets, ahead of Sylvain Guintoli by over six tenths of a second. Third place went to Alex de Angelis, with Hiroshi Aoyama pushing Andrea Dovizioso into fifth.

Hector Barbera joins the Italian on the provisional second row at Phillip Island, alongside Jakub Smrz and Marco Simoncelli. Anthony West and Shuhei Aoyama complete the top ten.

Mika Kallio came back from a problematic morning session to put himself on provisional pole in the 125cc category. The rider who currently lies second in the overall standings dropped more than six tenths of a second off Stefano Perugini’s 2003 pole record with a 1’36.664 lap.

Thomas Luthi’s first appearance in the top three at official sessions put him halfway towards a front row start in second, ahead of Hector Faubel and Joan Olive.

Having the chance to win the world title this weekend, Alvaro Bautista appears to be taking things steadily but he was by no means off the pace in fifth position. Lukas Pesek, Mattia Pasini, Sergio Gadea, Julian Simon and Mike di Meglio rounded out the top ten.

Combined free practice results
R.DE PUNIET (FRA) - KAWASAKI - 1''29.745
L.CAPIROSSI (ITA) - DUCATI - 1''30.310
N.HAYDEN (USA) - HONDA - 1''30.471
S.GIBERNAU (SPA) - DUCATI - 1''30.693
S.NAKANO (JPN) - KAWASAKI - 1''30.716
C.STONER (AUS) - HONDA - 1''30.768
M.MELANDRI (ITA) - HONDA - 1''30.863
V.ROSSI (ITA) - YAMAHA - 1''31.045 28
K.ROBERTS JR (USA) - KR211V - 1''31.077
C.CHECA (SPA) - YAMAHA - 1''31.137
M.TAMADA (JPN) - HONDA - 1''31.346
J.HOPKINS (USA) - SUZUKI - 1''31.496
C.EDWARDS (USA) - YAMAHA - 1''31.514
C.VERMEULEN (AUS) - SUZUKI - 1''31.846
A.HOFMANN (GER) - DUCATI - 1''31.978
T.ELIAS (SPA) - HONDA - 1''32.034
D.PEDROSA (SPA) - HONDA - 1''32.304
J.CARDOSO (SPA) - DUCATI - 1''32.419
J.ELLISON (GBR) - YAMAHA - 1''32.778

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