| Following a promising test after the | | | | Champions on Thursday. The target for |
| race in Spain, Nicky Hayden and Dani | | | | the weekend will obviously be to repeat |
| Pedrosa arrived at Donington confident | | | | last year's win, I'd be very happy with |
| of putting in strong performances for | | | | that." |
| the upcoming British Grand Prix. | | | | "We always knew Barcelona would be one |
| Pedrosa, third in the riders' point | | | | of the hardest circuits for us. Now we |
| standings, was quite dominant last year | | | | are at Donington, which in theory should |
| at Donington. The Spanish phenomenon was | | | | be much more favorable because it's more |
| fastest in all but one of the dry | | | | suited to the characteristics of our |
| practice sessions. He also set pole | | | | bike. If it rains I think us Bridgestone |
| position and won the race at ease, | | | | riders will have a good chance," said |
| having opened up a gap of seven seconds | | | | Melandri of Honda Gresini team. |
| at one point. The 21-year-old Spaniard | | | | There is pressure on both Pedrosa and |
| also set the fastest lap of the race to | | | | Melandri, but not quite on the reigning |
| record a new lap record of 1m 28.714s, | | | | World Champion Nicky Hayden who has not |
| over a second inside the previous lap | | | | hit top form so far this season. Hayden |
| record. The record is 0.450 seconds | | | | has endured some poor luck while trying |
| quicker than the fastest lap of any | | | | to defend his title but his |
| other rider. | | | | never-say-die attitude could guide the |
| The Spaniard arrived in a confident mood | | | | Repsol Champion like the Honda Accord |
| following his strong third-place finish | | | | mirror. His notable attitude and racing |
| in the Catalunya race two weeks ago. | | | | skills coupled with right driving |
| Pedrosa's Honda RC212V crossed the line | | | | conditions could work wonders. |
| less than half a second behind the | | | | "I can't wait to get on the track on |
| winner. "Last year I had a very good | | | | Friday morning to find out if I made as |
| time at Donington Park so I'm really | | | | much progress as I think I did on the |
| looking forward to going back there and | | | | Monday and Tuesday test in Spain. I |
| trying for a repeat performance. We had | | | | really hope it will all carry over and |
| a positive test in Barcelona after the | | | | that I haven't just been fooling myself |
| last race and found a few things that | | | | - anyway and we'll find out soon! Plus |
| should help us, particularly some tyres | | | | I'm fully over my injuries from the Le |
| that we tested for Michelin, so this | | | | Mans crash so I feel ready to push |
| gives us more confidence for the | | | | really hard. Donington is a pretty good |
| upcoming races," Pedrosa noted. | | | | track," said Hayden. |
| He added, "The Donington Park track is | | | | "On the Thursday before the race the |
| quite good, with two quite distinct | | | | Riders for Health charity does some good |
| sections, the flowing first half of the | | | | fundraising work and we're bringing a |
| lap and the stop-and-go second part. | | | | few kids from the Make-a-Wish Foundation |
| This makes engine performance quite | | | | for the weekend too, so I'm looking |
| critical to getting a good lap time. It | | | | forward to that. Also we've got a few |
| can rain here too so I hope we get the | | | | British 'lads' in my team and this is |
| same good weather we enjoyed last year. | | | | their home track, so it would be nice to |
| The crowd is unbelievable here, | | | | give them a good result here at |
| especially in the last few years, and | | | | 'Paradise Island' as they call it," |
| it's always good to see so many people | | | | added Hayden. |
| at the Riders for Health Day of | | | | |