Edwards: Home podium still possible

The American, whose only podium at Laguna Seca came at the track's MotoGP return in 2005, managed to set his best time of 1m22.490s - eight tenths off pole - in the closing stages, after looking off the pace for most of the session.

"I know it is going to be tough to get a podium tomorrow but I'll be giving it my all for the American fans," said the Tech 3 Yamaha rider. "There are a lot of people here to support me on a big weekend for America and I'm determined to give them a good result.

"To be seventh I'm pretty happy because I didn't feel like I could push as hard as I want or need to. But if I can eliminate a couple of problems in the warm-up I'm confident of a good race."

Edwards was relieved at escaping major injury in a practice crash in the morning, after losing a fingernail as a consequence of a high-side at Turn 10.

"I made a mistake this morning and did a bit of damage to a finger on my right hand, but nothing that is giving me too many problems," he explained.

"It wasn't fun though high-siding at Turn 10 because that's not a slow corner. I was on my head and then my back, so just to take a fingernail off I feel pretty lucky."