Dovizioso: Laguna Seca is mad!

Laguna Seca left an instant impression on MotoGP rookie Andrea Dovizioso, who labelled it as a 'mad track' - in both a good and bad way - after finishing a highly impressive seventh in Friday morning free practice for the US Grand Prix.

Following his first 29 laps around the famous Californian race track, the JiR Team Scot rider sat 1.781secs behind pace setter Casey Stoner - but just 0.227secs from top Michelin rider and double US GP winner Nicky Hayden.

"Laguna Seca is a mad track: and that's in both a good and bad way!" smiled Dovi. "Safety isn't maybe at the highest level, but it's an impressive circuit to ride - you have so many curves and changes of altitude.

"And then there's the Corkscrew which gives you so much fear at first, as you do not see the descent down to the left but you have to keep the gas on for as long as possible before hitting the turn, where you have to back off the gas again!

"I followed Valentino Rossi for a while to learn the correct line through the corner and to learn the track faster. With time I've managed to learn it better on my own and the times have improved. It was fun!" he added.

Dovizioso has set himself the considerable goal of overturning local star Colin Edwards' eight point advantage this weekend, in order to take fifth in the world championship standings heading into the summer break.

Edwards was ninth fastest in first free practice.