Valentino Rossi was not only cleared to ride his M1 MotoGP Yamaha at Sachsenring, in typical fashion he was only a few tenths slower than team mate Lorenzo in first practice.
Six weeks after breaking his leg and effectively ruining his 2010 season, he was back, and 7th in practice at the German circuit. Honda rider Dani Pedrosa was fastest. Valentino Rossi:
“”I am really happy today, especially because I am a lot more agile on the bike than I was in the tests. I feel good and this track is helping me because a lot of it turns to the left. I am feeling quite confident on the bike and also my shoulder is good and not giving me problems.
Now I have some pain in the leg and ankle but it’s not too bad, I was able to do some laps in a row and I was quite fast so things seem okay. Now we will have to wait until tomorrow morning to see how the leg is and whether it has swelled overnight or developed any problems.”
1. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team 1’22.521
2. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati Marlboro Team 1’22.795
3. Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati Marlboro Team 1’22.983
4. Ben Spies (USA) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1’23.189
5. Marco Simoncelli (ITA) San Carlo Honda Gresini 1’23.204
6. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Fiat Yamaha Team 1’23.224
7. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Fiat Yamaha Team 1’23.244
8. Randy de Puniet (FRA) LCR Honda MotoGP 1’23.260
9. Marco Melandri (ITA) San Carlo Honda Gresini 1’23.290
10. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) Repsol Honda Team 1’23.400
11. Mika Kallio (FIN) Pramac Green Team 1’23.422
12. Aleix Espargaro (SPA) Pramac Green Team 1’23.430
13. Colin Edwards (USA) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1’23.440
14. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1’23.589
15. Hector Barbera (SPA) Aspar Team 1’23.599
16. Alvaro Bautista (SPA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1’24.020
17. Alex de Angelis (ITA) Interwetten Honda MotoGP 1’24.101