Roberts springs Jerez surprise

American Kenny Roberts Junior sprang an early surprise in Jerez this morning by topping the timesheets in the first free practice session for Sunday’s Spanish GP.

After finishing a disappointing 13th in the season’s opening race in Qatar, the KR212V rider bounced back immediately in sunny but cold conditions at the Jerez circuit, with air temperature was only 12 degrees and track temperature only 15 degrees.

The 2000 world 500 champion clocked a best time of 1.41.182 on his 25th and final lap to edge out Italian Marco Melandri by 0.236s as the leader board had an unfamiliar look to it.

Qatar GP winner and world championship leader Casey Stoner was third fastest on the Marlboro Ducati having topped the timesheets for most of the 60-minute session on the impressive new GP7. The Aussie’s best time was a 1.41.450 set on his 13th lap of a 22-lap stint.

Reigning world champion Nicky Hayden gave himself a confidence boost after his opening round nightmare in Qatar to clock the fourth best time, ahead of Melandri’s Gresini Honda team-mate Toni Elias, who sparked controversy last year when he knocked Valentino Rossi off at the first corner.

The factory Honda rider, desperate to kick start the defence of his world crown having finished only eighth in Qatar, logged a best of 1.41.566.
Seven-times world champion Rossi was eighth fastest as the Italian finished 0.875s adrift of Roberts Junior, while Fiat Yamaha team-mate Colin Edwards was ninth fastest.

Rossi didn’t break into the 1.42s even though he completed a 28-lap stint.
Loris Capirossi, who is preparing for his 250th GP start on Sunday, was a bitterly disappointing 14th finishing a massive 1.245s slower than Roberts Junior.