Safety better, bumps worse at 'new' Laguna.
This morning's first free practice session for the US Grand Prix at Laguna Seca provided the MotoGP field with their first chance to experience the modifications made to the famous Californian raceway since 2005.
After rider complaints about excessive bumps and a lack of run off one year ago, the circuit has been completely repaved - and run off areas extended at turn one and the corkscrew approach - for 2006. However, while the extra run off appears a success, the new surface has already caused controversy - with many riders saying the bumps are much worse than before.
This morning's first free practice session for the US Grand Prix at Laguna Seca provided the MotoGP field with their first chance to experience the modifications made to the famous Californian raceway since 2005.
After rider complaints about excessive bumps and a lack of run off one year ago, the circuit has been completely repaved - and run off areas extended at turn one and the corkscrew approach - for 2006. However, while the extra run off appears a success, the new surface has already caused controversy - with many riders saying the bumps are much worse than before.
"The track is much safer now, that's the good point," said Ducati Marlboro's Sete Gibernau after the first practice session, in which he was tenth fastest. "The new surface is slippery, though new surfaces are always slippery so I'm sure it will get better over the weekend. It's also really bumpy, I thought it would be smoother than before but it's not. It's especially bad coming out of the Corkscrew, but it's like that for everyone."
Loris Capirossi agreed with his team-mate's verdict, adding that a resin which has been laid in some of the corners is more than a little distracting.
"From a safety point of view the track is much better, especially at the first turn and at the Corkscrew, where the bike is much less in crisis than before. We can't say the same about the surface, which seems even bumpier than before and also not very grippy," said the Italian, twelfth fastest in FP1. "It seems like they have laid down some kind of resin in some places, not on the straights but at some corners. The surface at the Corkscrew looks like glass, which doesn't give you confidence.
"We had some difficulties with our front tyres but we have others here which we think will be better and we will test them this afternoon. This is a very strange track, it's pretty easy to improve your lap times here. Anyway, after lunch we'll continue our work," he added.
American Kenny Roberts Jr led countryman Colin Edwards by 0.359secs in this morning's first free practice session, in which 2005 winner Nicky Hayden was eighth and world champion Valentino Rossi fifth.
Second practice takes place this afternoon.
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
