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