MotoMatters.com | Kropotkin Thinks

Kenny Roberts Jr leads the timesheets at the end of the first day of practice at the US GP at Laguna Seca. The rider who did so poorly at last year's grand prix is really making an impression at his home GP this year. Behind him, last year's winner Nicky Hayden had a good run in the second session, after a disappointing display in the morning session. Hayden's team mate Dani Pedrosa is the big surprise of the day, taking third spot on his first visit to the track, an extraordinary achievement at a track which is difficult to learn, thanks to so many blind turns. Marco Melandri is fourth, followed by double Superbike winner at Laguna Seca Chris Vermeulen. Colin Edwards heads up the Yamaha challenge in 6th place.

Other standings of note: Makoto Tamada put in a good result to take 7th spot, John Hopkins will be very frustrated to be in 10th at is home GP, and Valentino Rossi is a struggling with Laguna Seca's bumps down in 11th. Carlos Checa is showing continual improvement in 12th, but both the Ducatis and the Kawasakis are a long way down the grid. Alex Hoffman is the only exception for the Ducatis, his 15th time a good deal better than his usual standing.

The top 11 are covered by less than a second, but with Laguna Seca being a short track, and the fastest lap a 1:23.859, this is less significant than at other, longer tracks.