Nicky Hayden fastest in cold and damp Valencia

New factory Ducati rider Nicky Hayden has topped the timesheets on a second of day testing in Valencia severely disrupted by wet conditions.

Hayden, who was 12th quickest on his Ducati debut in Spain yesterday, set a best time of 1.48.287 as only seven riders opted to take to the track today. Intermittent rain showers had disrupted the day, with conditions for most of the available track time not wet enough for any beneficial rain tyre testing for Bridgestone.

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It was only in the last 90 minutes that anybody decided to venture out, with Hayden’s Repsol Honda replacement Andrea Dovizioso first to brave the miserable conditions.

Hayden set his best time on his last and 20th lap before the track was closed, and he finished just 0.009s quicker than Italian Dovizioso.

Dovizioso clocked a best time of 1.48.296, with Marco Melandri third quickest as he made his wet debut on Kawasaki’s factory ZX-RR.

Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa all chose not to ride, as did Fiat Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo.