Portuguese GP: Gresini Racing Friday report

MELANDRI AND SIMONCELLI SIXTH AND EIGHTH FASTEST IN THE WET AT ESTORIL After a morning thunderstorm that effectively wiped out the opening free practice session the omens were not looking good for the afternoon, but thankfully the strong winds ...

MELANDRI AND SIMONCELLI SIXTH AND EIGHTH FASTEST IN THE WET AT ESTORIL

After a morning thunderstorm that effectively wiped out the opening free practice session the omens were not looking good for the afternoon, but thankfully the strong winds blew the worst of the rain away from Estoril and the second session went ahead on a wet track. Marco Melandri encountered some acceleration issues but gave positive overall feedback after lapping sixth fastest, whist his team-mate Marco Simoncelli could have classified higher but did not manage to put together a fast lap as the track dried slightly towards the end of the session. Grid positions will be decided tomorrow -- hopefully in better conditions.

Marco Melandri (6th 1'4" 784) "It has been a really difficult day in terms of the weather because Estoril is always very slippery in the wet. Luckily the conditions improved slightly for the afternoon and we were able to have a fairly normal session. The most difficult thing was the amount of wind, which in particular affected my feeling with the bike under acceleration. We'll see how the weather is over the next two days and I'll do the best job I can."

Marco Simoncelli (8th 1'51" 283) "It has been a really strange day but thankfully this afternoon we were able to have a more or less normal session this afternoon despite conditions. I am quite satisfied because I have made good progress throughout the session and if I had pushed harder over the last couple of laps I maybe could have improved my position. Now we have to wait and see what conditions we have tomorrow but I am feeling confident. We need to improve the traction control and front end feel but we're not in bad shape."

Fausto Gresini "What can I say? It is hard to make any conclusions after a day like that. We'll have to wait and see what the weather brings tomorrow and Sunday but there is every chance that the data we gathered today will be of little use. We were able to get some information but when the track is so wet and the wind so strong it certainly doesn't help."