It was the usual suspects up front in the first free practice of the final MotoGP race of the 2009 season at Valencia, Spain, with Ducati Marlboro’s Casey Stoner once again easily ripping off quick lap times from the get-go, and planting himself firmly in the top spot as the only rider to dip into the 32s while running about 10 laps less than everyone else. Fiat Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo quickly established himself as next in the pecking order, swiftly dropping into the low 33s but not quite able to make that step beyond like Stoner. His Spanish compatriot Dani Pedrosa was also running well on his Repsol Honda, but trailed a few tenths behind Lorenzo for the duration of the session to land in the third spot.
Newly-crowned MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi eased into the fourth spot on his Fiat Yamaha M1 and looked fairly relaxed and unhurried (as to be expected for someone who has clinched his ninth world title) despite running off the track in turn one late in the session. Monster Tech 3 Yamaha’s Colin Edwards looked to be stuck in the high 34s for most of the session, but found some improvement as the practice was ending and ended up seventh. Ducati Marlboro’s Nicky Hayden continued his struggles with the Desmosedici, as it appeared only a superhuman effort on his last lap of the session could drop his times into the 34s; he ended up 10th. Meanwhile, newly-crowned World Superbike Champion Ben Spies took his time getting accustomed to the Yamaha M1, slowly but surely dropping his times with each lap to finish just outside the 34s and ending up in 15th spot.
Practice results:
1. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati 1:32.813
2. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Yamaha 1:33.195
3. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Honda 1:33.241
4. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Yamaha 1:33.499
5. Randy De Puniet (FRA) Honda 1:33.910
6. Alex De Angelis (RSM) Honda 1:34.106
7. Colin Edwards (USA) Yamaha 1:34.123
8. Andrea Dovisioso (ITA) Honda 1:34.382
9. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Suzuki 1:34.427
10. Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati 1:34.462
15. Ben Spies (USA) Yamaha 1:35.052