The Movistar Honda MotoGP team enjoyed a good start to life at the ultra-modern circuit of Shangai, where difficulties adapting to the characteristics of the new circuit were made even more complicated by a spell of rain, which left the track surface damp for the afternoon session.

The day began with a two and a half hour delay just after the 125cc session, when the organisers realised that there was no helicopter available to provide medical assistance at the circuit.

Sete Gibernau dominated the morning session in dry conditions, confirming his knack for adapting swiftly to new circuits, whilst in the damp afternoon conditions, caused by a spell of rain at around 14.30h, he needed just nine laps to set the third fastest time.

Marco Melandri also made a positive debut in China. The Italian put together a run of three fast laps in the morning, moving up to second place behind Nicky Hayden, before lapping seventh fastest in the afternoon after completing 18 laps in the wet.

SETE GIBERNAU (3rd, 2’02”327 and 2’15”363): “We were quite curious to see how we would adapt to a circuit like this, which is so different to the others. It’s not a track I particularly like, to be honest, because it is very small and tight even though it has the two long straights. The important thing is that, whether we like the track or not, it’s going well for us. Today was quite strange with the weather and it didn’t help us to test things; hopefully tomorrow is either wet or dry, but not a mixture of the two like today.”

MARCO MELANDRI (2nd, 2’02”485 and 2’16”209): “I like this circuit quite a lot. We began working well straight away in the morning session and I felt comfortable in both the wet and the dry. In the afternoon the session was quite strange because we began with a wet track and in the end a dry line began to form, but generally the feeling is good.”

LAP TIMES

(Both free practice sessions combined)

1. Nicky Hayden (USA/Honda) 2’02”327 and 2’19”423
2. Marco Melandri (Ita/Honda) 2’02”485 and 2’16”209
3. Sete Gibernau (Esp/Honda) 2’02”557 and 2’15”363
4. Carlos checa (Esp/Ducati) 2’02”664 and 2’16”841
5. Valentino Rossi (Ita/Yamaha) 2’02”677 and 2’15”920