Jerez, 1 May: the LCR Honda MotoGP Team rider Randy De Puniet was back on track today for the first European round of the 2009 season at Jerez de la Frontera after the last week’s race at Motegi circuit in Japan. Randy circulated the Southern Spain circuit 21 times throughout the 45-minute free session clocking his fastest lap time on 1’40.866.
The Frenchman riding the Honda RC212V no. 14 worked with his crew to adjust his machinery in the dry setting consistent lap times and he finished 7th overall. Today’s track temperature reached 36°C and the 28-year-old focused mainly on tyres testing and chassis set up gaining a good package for tomorrow but, at the end of the session, a bee stung just below his left eye.

Today’s frontrunner Rossi set a 1’39.647 fastest lap time.

De Puniet – 7th – 1’40.866

De Puniet – 7th: “One bike was set up as we tested it during pre season official test and the other one was set up as we raced in Japan but we fixed several issues. I compared both bikes and my pace was pretty fast since the beginning of the session. I was happy with my package and at the end I lapped on hard set of tyres which will be our race tyre if the track temperature remains the same. Unfortunately in the last lap a bee stung just below my left eye but I am OK. Our to-do list for tomorrow includes engine mapping and chassis set up but basically we already had a very positive beginning”.


Free Practice 1:

1        Rossi – (1’39.647)
2        Capirossi – (1’40.011)
3        Stoner - (1’40.268)
4        Lorenzo - (1’40.441)
5        Dovizioso – (1’40.601)
6        Edwards  – (1’40.703)
7        De Puniet  – (1’40.866)
8        Vermeulen – (1’41.063)
9        Melandri – (1’41.182)
10      Pedrosa – (1’41.208)
11      Toseland – (1’41.461)
12      Gibernau – (1’41.531)
13      De Angelis – (1’41.557)
14      Kallio – (1’41.584)
15      Elias – (1’41.736)
16      Takahashi – (1’41.898)
17      Hayden – (1’41.916)
18      Canepa – (1’42.063)