MotoGP Jerez test: Birthday boy Valentino Rossi eighth fastest

Valentino Rossi marked his 29th birthday celebrations by setting the eighth fastest time on the opening day of testing at the Jerez circuit in Spain.

Returning to the track where he made his Bridgestone debut last November, Rossi was in impressive form even though he failed to improve his best time on a soft qualifying tyre at the end of the day.

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Rossi’s best in race trim of 1.40.641 was an early signal of intent as he jumped to the top of the timesheets on only his fifth exit from the pits.

Only British rider James Toseland threatened his early dominance as the British rider produced a hugely impressive performance to clock the fifth best time on day one.

Rossi did try a Bridgestone qualifying tyre at the end of the day but was unable to improve on his lap time, with his best on soft rubber only a 1.40.706. The Italian was on course to post his best time through the first two-timed split sections but fell away on the second half of the lap.

With Michelin riders dominating on qualifying tyres, the first Bridgestone rider was only sixth fastest overall today, Rossi said he wasn’t too concerned about the gap in performance.

Rossi was 1.5s slower than factory Honda rider Nicky Hayden on qualifiers.
“I only have the good qualifying tyres from Sepang for tomorrow when we try to win the car, “said Rossi, who will compete for the keys to a BMW Z4 M in a special 40-minute televised session tomorrow afternoon.

“With that tyre I am competitive. I think Hayden is the favourite for the car because with the qualifying tyre he is very fast. I am still confident with Bridgestone’s qualifying tyre and I think tomorrow it is possible to fight with Michelin.”

Rossi marked his 29th birthday with a special AGV helmet that he designed himself.
“It was my idea because last year for my birthday I was in Sepang testing. After my birthday I said I want a helmet with a cake on it, so I had to wait for one year, “said Rossi, who joked that he wanted to have a real candle mounted on his one-off helmet.

“We tried with the real one but it was difficult for the aerodynamics, “laughed Rossi.