Checa tops third practice
Carlos Checa ended again at the top of the timesheets in MotoGP's third free practice session of the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez, after the Cecchinello rider set the fastest lap in yesterday's second session too
It was a good session for Honda, with five of the Japanese manufacturer's bikes in the top eight positions. However, the fastest HRC rider was Dani Pedrosa, who had to settle for third position with Alex Barros taking his Pramac d'Antin Ducati to second, 0.182 seconds away from Checa.
Honda Gresini's Marco Melandri ended in fourth and teammate Toni Elias in sixth, the two separated by John Hopkins who took his Rizla Suzuki to fifth spot.
Colin Edwards was the top Fiat Yamaha rider in seventh position, while teammate Valentino Rossi ended the session in a lowly 18th place, almost 1.5 seconds away from Checa.
World champion Nicky Hayden could only set the eighth fastest time, his Repsol Honda seven tenths away from the top, followed by Ducati's Qatar GP winner Casey Stoner in ninth and Tech 3's Makoto Tamada in tenth.
Loris Capirossi could only take his Ducati to 12th spot, while the top Kawasaki rider was Randy de Puniet in 14th place. Kenny Roberts Jr ended the session with the 17th fastest time.
Pos Rider Make Time 1. Carlos Checa Honda 1:40.659 2. Alex Barros Ducati 1:40.841 + 0.182 3. Daniel Pedrosa Honda 1:41.070 + 0.411 4. Marco Melandri Honda 1:41.122 + 0.463 5. John Hopkins Suzuki 1:41.175 + 0.516 6. Toni Elías Honda 1:41.179 + 0.520 7. Colin Edwards Yamaha 1:41.301 + 0.642 8. Nicky Hayden Honda 1:41.366 + 0.707 9. Casey Stoner Ducati 1:41.394 + 0.735 10. Makoto Tamada Yamaha 1:41.406 + 0.747 11. Shinya Nakano Honda 1:41.416 + 0.757 12. Loris Capirossi Ducati 1:41.482 + 0.823 13. Sylvain Guintoli Yamaha 1:41.674 + 1.015 14. Randy de Puniet Kawasaki 1:41.802 + 1.143 15. Chris Vermeulen Suzuki 1:41.872 + 1.213 16. Alex Hofmann Ducati 1:41.886 + 1.227 17. K.Roberts Jr. KR 1:41.966 + 1.307 18. Valentino Rossi Yamaha 1:42.129 + 1.470 19. Kousuke Akiyoshi Suzuki 1:42.464 + 1.805 20. Olivier Jacque Kawasaki 1:42.560 + 1.901
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