Switch the racing numbers 27 and 26 around and you get this afternoon’s second free practice results at Jerez, with Dani Pedrosa topping the timesheets and Casey Stoner taking the second spot.
Pedrosa was fast, but unable to take a bite out of Stoner’s morning lap time, however he left his Australian team mate adrift by 0.
188s.
Despite finishing first in this session, there’s still a big question mark on whether Pedrosa’s shoulder will hold up for the long 27 lap race.
Jorge Lorenzo moved up the chart to finish third, half a second from Pedros, and not exactly beaming about it.
We may see him revert back to his old 250cc helmet temper tantrum throwing days, if he doesn’t find the pace to contest the very competitive Repsol Honda duo.
Marco Simoncelli was fourth and we’re really getting used to seeing him in the top 5.
Valentino Rossi dropped back to fifth from his third spot in FP1, unable to his lap time, he was almost nine tenths slower this afternoon after a staring down match with Lorenzo at the beginning of the session, when the two former team mates crossed paths and lines at the Nieto turn.
Pramac Ducati rider Randy de Puniet made a jump forward and he finished in sixth and just 0.
026s from Rossi, after following the Ducati factory rider around the track for a good part of the 45 minute practice, The French rider was faster than Ben Spies and Nicky Hayden who were 7th and 8th respectively and the two Americans were separated by a mere 0.
005s.
Closing out the top ten were Hiroshi Aoyama and Karel Abraham who had a one off at the Dry Sac.
MotoGP returnee John Hopkins closed out his second session in 16th and faster by more than three tenths of second than the still struggling Toni Elias, who was dead last, again.
MotoGP Jerez FP2 results:01- Dani Pedrosa – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – 1’40.
10102- Casey Stoner – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – + 0.
18803- Jorge Lorenzo – Yamaha Factory Racing Team – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 0.
52204- Marco Simoncelli – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – + 0.
60005- Valentino Rossi – Ducati Marlboro Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – + 0.
85506- Randy De Puniet – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – + 0.
88107- Ben Spies – Yamaha Factory Racing Team – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 0.
95208- Nicky Hayden – Ducati Marlboro Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – + 0.
95709- Hiroshi Aoyama – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – + 1.
19110- Karel Abraham – Cardion AB Motoracing – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – + 1.
20311- Colin Edwards – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 1.
23612- Andrea Dovizioso – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – + 1.
30613- Hector Barbera – Mapfre Aspar Team MotoGP – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – + 1.
56414- Loris Capirossi – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – + 1.
70915- Cal Crutchlow – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 1.
75316- John Hopkins – Rizla Suzuki MotoGP – Suzuki GSV-R – + 2.
20417- Toni Elias – LCR Honda MotoGP – Honda RC212V – + 2.
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