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2005-10-21 MotoGP FP1: Turkey: Melandri sets early pace
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 Honda rider Marco Melandri set fastest time in first free MotoGP practice (and first ever) at Istanbul circuit, Turkey. Melandri was high in the time sheets for most of the session, but he set his fastest time of 1.54.639 in his penultimate lap on the track. Melandri was also only rider to dig under 1.55 mark, with Valentino Rossi being 0.499 seconds behind. Rossi was in top 5 for most of the session, althought he was not in top of that group until his fastest lap.
American John Hopkins quickly adapted to new track, being constantly in the top, and finished today's session 0.653 seconds behind leader Melandri. After being fastest in some periods of practice, Sete Gibernau finally finished as 4th fastest, in front of Colin Edwards, who spent most of the session in place on which he finished practice.
Nicky Hayden was 6th fastest, 1.235 seconds behind Melandri, just 0.011 seconds in front of charging Toni Elias. Elias seems to continue his work in good direction, and this youngster will be threat for many veterans in MotoGP in comming days. Olivier Jacque seems to get in form, as he was fastest Kawasaki today in 8th, which is good for Frenchman after disapointing performance in Australia. Carlos Checa was 9th fastest, and last man under 1.56 seconds mark. Shinya Nakano completed top 10.
Istanbul: Turkey: FP1 results:
1 Marco Melandri 1:54.639
2 Valentino Rossi 1:55.138
3 John Hopkins 1:55.292
4 Sete Gibernau 1:55.397
5 Colin Edwards 1:55.599
6 Nicky Hayden 1:55.874
7 Toni Elias 1:55.885
8 Olivier Jacque 1:55.925
9 Carlos Checa 1:55.935
10 Shinya Nakano 1:56.201
11 Max Biaggi 1:56.926
12 Roberto Rolfo 1:57.158
13 Chris Vermeulen 1:57.427
14 Alex Barros 1:57.477
15 Makoto Tamada 1:57.920
16 Shinichi Ito 1:57.952
17 James Ellison 1:58.816
18 Franco Battaini 1:58.847
19 Ruben Xaus 1:59.723
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