Randy de Puniet - 2nd
Today we've concentrated on testing as many different set-up and tyre options as possible on both bikes. For most of the time I was running pretty consistently at two minutes flat, but we didn't get a chance today to put the best tyres on the bike with the better set-up, so I'm confident that, when we do that tomorrow, we'll see a significant improvement in my lap time in race trim. Before the summer break I was struggling to get the best from the qualifying tyres, so we decided to run one this afternoon to see if I could regain the confidence I had earlier in the season. I'm happy to say that it worked, with the result that I finished today with the second fastest time. As I said, we still have some work to do on set-up during tomorrow's free practice session, and I hope I can repeat today's performance on a qualifier tomorrow afternoon.

Loris Capirossi - 3rd
I thought it would be easy to find a good set-up up here but it's not been like that, so I'm not totally happy. We started this morning with what we thought would be good settings but the bike wasn't easy to turn and we lacked traction. This afternoon we made a lot of changes, especially during the last 20 minutes when it seems we found a good solution. After we made those adjustments I did one lap with a used tyre and then went out with a new race tyre and went very fast. I'm happy, because while I don't know what tyres the other guys used, I only used race tyres. We have a very competitive bike with great potential but it's not always easy to find a set-up that allows me to fully exploit its performance. Anyway, I'm doing my best and I know everyone at the factory is working really hard. Now we have a good set-up here we will spend tomorrow working to find the perfect race tyres.

Colin Edwards - 4th
It’s strange that after all the bad luck we’ve had this season we should roll up here at Brno and things suddenly seem to be turning around! We turned up here today and decided to start with two different settings – one based on what we found in the test last year and the other on Valentino’s 2005 race setting. I have changed my riding style since then so I went out and tried both this morning and basically Valentino’s setting worked and mine didn’t! I felt really comfortable with that so we went with it in the afternoon and just continued making small modifications so that it suits me better. It’s early days yet but it is important to get a good start and also a relief to know that we are onto something good. Hopefully the good work can continue tomorrow for both Valentino and I.

Shinya Nakano - 6th
In the past Brno has always been one of our problem tracks, but after today I'm not sure that's true anymore. The revised chassis is certainly an improvement, giving better grip and virtually eliminating the chatter we've had previously. To be honest, we've had to make very few changes to the set-up of my Ninja ZX-RR since this morning, which has given us more time to focus on evaluating the different tyres that Bridgestone have brought to this race. Compared to last year we also have more revs from the 2006 engine, and this makes the bike a lot easier to ride fast around this circuit. Over a long run this afternoon my times were pretty consistent, which puts us in a good position ahead of tomorrow's qualifying session. Overall, I'm happy with our progress today; it was a good way to start back after the summer break.

Carlos Checa - 7th
This morning we had a little bit of trouble testing a few tyres that we thought would work quite well but they didn’t. Then we found something in a better direction and this afternoon we started working with the tyres giving up better support and better grip. At this stage it seems we have good endurance. The grip level when the tyres have average wear is better than we expected so maybe we might go with a softer compound. So far the direction of the bike and tyres is quite clear. Our lap times are good but like many we used qualifiers at the end. Basically with the race tyre we have been in the top ten for all of the practices and I can be quite consistent in my lap times. We’ll try to improve different areas of the bike tomorrow with the grip of the tyres, turning and reduce the chatter. If we can do that I know that we will go quicker and get an even better lap time. “The grip of the track is ok – its amazing for an old track it is still looking pretty good. Some areas have a few bumps but considering how long since the asphalt has been down maybe they can show the Americans how to make asphalt! “The chatter has nothing to do with the track but under hard braking on the front and flicking it in. Compared to this morning we have reduced a lot and I think that with a few changes to the settings we will make more progress. After the break it is good to be back and this is a good start for the rest of the year.

Dani Pedrosa - 8th
Today we started very well in the morning and made some good progress, although the track is not really at 100 per cent and it’s a little bit dirty. This might be why this afternoon we didn’t improve so much. Tomorrow we’ll continue to improve things to get ready for qualifying and the race. Adapting to riding the MotoGP bike here wasn’t so difficult because it doesn’t feel too different to the 250cc, it’s just a bigger bike. Sure the speed is much higher at the end of the straights, but in the corners the difference is just the size and weight of the bike. Anyway, we’ll see if we can make some improvements for tomorrow and get a good qualifying position.

Marco Melandri - 9th
I am happy with this first day of qualifying, we did a lot of work on the bike in the morning session on the weight distribution which really improved it for this circuit. In the afternoon we tried to work on my feeling with the bike and now we must focus on our cornering. In the afternoon a lot of riders put on qualifying tyres but we decided to follow the plan we had set out.

Nicky Hayden - 10th
It was nice to get back on track this morning and it feels really good to be working with my boys again. I love being back here, working hard with my guys and everything felt pretty good in this morning’s session. This afternoon, though, I didn’t have such a good feeling. The track temperature changed a bit and we were trying a few different things on the bike, but even when we put the bike back to exactly how I had it this morning my feeling wasn’t so good and my lap times weren’t an improvement. There are a few parts on the track where I feel like I could be doing better and a few places where I need to get the front to steer a little better and accelerate onto the straights. So I’ll sit down and talk about a few issues with my team tonight and we’ll work it out.

John Hopkins - 11th
We were really just getting back into things today - getting back into a rhythm. We have worked a lot with Bridgestone today to get the best tyres we can for Sunday and getting the set-up sorted out. We have a few things to work on overnight but overall it was a pretty decent day. I can’t say we are happy with the 11th place, but we will be a lot happier if we get a better position tomorrow. We have just got to keep chipping away at it and work hard as a team. We need to come out tomorrow and get the best out of qualifying that we can.

Toni Elias - 14th
This morning we started well and I felt good on the bike. In the afternoon the difference was that the majority of riders put on qualifying tyres. I am satisfied as the mid-season break gave me time to get back my fitness. Although the shoulder still hurts a bit from the injury and I am not at 100 percent, my overall fitness is much improved.

Alex Hofmann - 15th
I felt pretty good today. After the break I was just happy to be back on a bike and even happier because it's the Factory bike! We got up to a decent speed straight away but right now my race pace isn't enough, although Loris was only half a second faster until he tried a different tyre and went much quicker at the end of the session. Our set-up is okay but the tyres I tried today didn't give me the feeling I wanted and I struggled with wheelspin, which is unusual here. So I am really looking forward to tomorrow when Bridgestone will open the truck and give me more tyres to try. I feel like I've got a lot more to come here.

Chris Vermeulen - 16th
It’s not quite the start as we have had at the last couple of GPs, we have definitely got some work to do here! I have been to Brno once before but that was on a Superbike and I made a bit of a mistake this morning by not really knowing the track that well - I hit a kerb and broke a wheel. This afternoon we had a lot of chatter and my guys can see the problem and we have some ideas to try tomorrow. We hope we will solve it and that we can make a lot of progress.

James Ellison - 17th
I don’t know what happened to my fastest time because I passed the flag bang on time but they didn’t count it. I don’t know what happened. It came up on the computer but basically they erased the lap. It doesn’t really worry me as it is only practice. We’re just making steady progress with all the changes we have made. We have lowered it overall, softened the front and lifted the rear up again, just to get the balance right. It feels pretty good and, like Carlos, we have to eliminate the chatter but every tyre we are putting in it is getting less and less. With the qualifier it came back a bit but that’s because you have better grip, you’re pushing it harder and have more confidence braking later and things like that. Now we have to run those times on race tyres. We will be able to do it- I know that - because all the changes have been going in a positive direction. I reckon I can take at least a couple of seconds off because I did it last year on race tyres. That’s the frustrating thing about it because I know I can do it and I’m on a much better bike than last year. You don’t come back to a circuit 12 months later on a much superior bike and go slower so I’m looking forward to tomorrow.

Jose Luis Cardoso - 18th
Today we principally worked on the tyres. We tested one softer tyre with which I had a good feeling but that we retain wouldn't be constant enough to allow us to finish the race in good conditions ; while a harder one had no grip enough. Tomorrow we will test one more tyre and we hope to find a good compromise. Right now, I lose time especially when I need to open the throttle, I need more grip in the exit of the corners. There are also a lot of holes on the track but the situation is the same for everybody. I know this circuit very well, I always had a good feeling here and I really want to make a good race.

Ivan Silva - 19th
A new track once again, I never rode here before and this track is quite hard to interpret. Besides, the track if full of holes and this makes things even harder. I must  improve a lot my laptimes, then we will be able to start working on the definition of the ideal set-up of my motorcycle for the race. The grip is not the same as it was in Assen, I haven't got the same feeling with the tyres ad this surely is because of the difference of the ground here. Anyway, I am happy to be here. Three days ago, I was making free practice with another bike and I have to say it is not very easy to pass from one motorcycle to another one so quickly without a bit of confusion, but I'm confident for tomorrow and I will do my best to get closer to the other riders.