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Spies Makes The Perfect Start At Indianapolis

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Ben Spies began his quest for a home victory in perfect style with the fastest time in first practice for the Indianapolis Grand Prix. The MotoGP weekend began in unusual fashion with a dirty track surface leading to some strange results, with a number of big names struggling early on.

Spies had no obvious difficulties though and set a 1:43.260 with just over a minute to go, edging out championship leader Casey Stoner who had taken the fastest time moments earlier. The Australian was among the leading runners that pitted just a lap into their first run, clearly feeling unhappy with the set-up of his Honda machine.

The Australian ended up just under three tenths off the pace in second with Colin Edwards producing one of the surprises of the morning to take third, a fraction of a second behind the series leader.

Marco Simoncelli topped the timesheets for much of the session as the track rubbered in. Fresh from his maiden podium two weeks ago, the Italian looked to be on top form again and virtually matched the time of Stoner and Edwards in fourth.

The two works Ducatis were next up with Nicky Hayden sneaking in front of Valentino Rossi on his final lap of the session. Although they were around a second off the ultimate pace, the Italian squad will have been pleased to have two works Hondas and a factory Yamaha behind them in the first timed session.

Hector Barbera was eighth fastest and had the rare distinction of being the top Spaniard in FP1 with Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa languishing in ninth and tenth respectively. The two men who dominated qualifying for the previous race at Brno were visibly unhappy with their respective bikes and will be hoping for much more later this afternoon.

Cal Crutchlow took a while to get going as he explored the limits of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Briton took a couple of trips through the grass on his way to 12th while Karel Abraham also had a disrupted session as his Ducati broke down on two occasions.

 

Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix: Free Practice 1 Result

Pos Rider Nat Bike Team Time/Gap
1 Ben Spies USA Yamaha Yamaha Factory Racing 1:43.260
2 Casey Stoner AUS Honda Repsol Honda Team +0.292
3 Colin Edwards USA Yamaha Monster Yamaha Tech 3 +0.314
4 Marco Simoncelli ITA Honda San Carlo Honda Gresini +0.322
5 Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Ducati Team +0.976
6 Valentino Rossi ITA Ducati Ducati Team +1.102
7 Andrea Dovizioso ITA Honda Repsol Honda Team +1.291
8 Hector Barbera SPA Ducati Mapfre Aspar Team MotoGP +1.766
9 Jorge Lorenzo SPA Yamaha Yamaha Factory Racing +1.805
10 Dani Pedrosa SPA Honda Repsol Honda Team +1.932
11 Alvaro Bautista SPA Suzuki Rizla Suzuki MotoGP +1.989
12 Cal Crutchlow GBR Yamaha Monster Yamaha Tech 3 +2.108
13 Randy de Puniet FRA Ducati Pramac Racing Team +2.317
14 Hiroshi Aoyama JAP Honda San Carlo Honda Gresini +2.899
15 Loris Capirossi ITA Ducati Pramac Racing Team +3.224
16 Karel Abraham CZE Ducati Cardion AB Motoracing +3.383
17 Toni Elias SPA Honda LCR Honda MotoGP +4.247
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