Pedrosa stamps his authority in opening Misano practice03/09/2010

Bridgestone slick compounds available: Front: Medium, Hard.  Rear: Medium, Hard  

Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa continued his scorching Indianapolis form today in Misano, setting the fastest time during the hour-long first free practice session. His impressive pace carried him 0.6seconds clear of teammate Andrea Dovizioso who was second fastest, and within 0.03seconds of the lap record set by Valentino Rossi last year.  

Behind Dovizioso though the times were much closer with just 0.1seconds separating the Italian from Jorge Lorenzo and Rossi in third and fourth respectively, and 0.5seconds covering Colin Edwards in fifth to Loris Capirossi in tenth.  

Pedrosa set his best on the harder front and the softer rear slicks, as did the rest of the top ten apart from Rossi and Casey Stoner. The reigning World Champion recorded his fastest effort using a softer front slick and a harder rear, the inverse of what we have come to expect in these free practice sessions, and Stoner used a harder option rear.  

Conditions for the session were fine and dry, very similar to last year’s race here. Some riders got the chance to test the tyres’ race-distance durability with long runs during the session.    

Tohru Ubukata, Manager, Bridgestone Motorcycle Tyre Development Department said:
“Dani’s pace was fast today as he is almost on the lap record after just the first session and it is clear that the team have got the bike the working well on our tyres. Dani, Andrea and Casey all completed the session using a single set of tyres and their best times came at the end of their runs, so they have already demonstrated that in these conditions race distance durability is good. Dani and Andrea used one harder front and one softer rear each and Casey used one harder front and rear, and the performance and consistency of both look good. The harder front slick has better stability under braking but the softer option offers more grip, so at the moment I can say that all our specs front and rear are possible for race distance on Sunday.”