Rossi, Stoner, and Spies will have more time to get used to their new rides after the Grand Prix Commission announced a more liberal MotoGP practice schedule.The extra track time amounts to only 15 minutes. The GP Commission added 30 minutes of MotoGP practice time on Friday, while taking away 15 minutes on Saturday. The difference is in how the time is allotted.MotoGP riders now have two 45-minute Friday practice sessions. The first is from 10:10 to 10:55 a.m., the second from 2:10 to 2:55 p.m.
Saturday’s 45-minute free practice is again at 10:10 a.m., with qualifying for 60 minutes from 1:55 p.m. to 2:55 p.m.The single Friday practice schedule was put into place two seasons ago as a way of saving money, the rationale being that less track time meant less mechanical wear and tear. Now, with Valentino Rossi moving to Ducati Marlboro, Casey Stoner to Repsol Honda, and Ben Spies going from the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team to the factory Yamaha team, they’ll all get a little more seat time. More importantly, they’ll have an opportunity to make changes on Friday afternoon based on Friday morning’s practice.The practice time is also welcome because of the relative lack of pre-season testing. The MotoGP teams have three official tests, two in Malaysia in February and the final one a week before the season-opener in Qatar on March 20.Rossi, Stoner, and Spies aren’t the only ones who could use the extra time. Brit Cal Crutchlow will be making his MotoGP debut on the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team, Moto2 World Champion Toni Elias moves to the LCR Honda team, veterans Randy de Puniet and Loris Capirossi join the Pramac Racing Ducati team, and Czech Karel Abraham will enter his rookie MotoGP season on the Cardion AB Ducati Team.Friday
09:15-09:55 40 min. 125cc Free Practice 1
10:10-10:55 45 min. MotoGP Free Practice 1
11:10-11:55 45 min. Moto2 Free Practice 1
13:15-13:55 40 min. 125cc Free Practice 2
14:10-14:55 45 min. MotoGP Free Practice 2
15:10-15:55 45 min. Moto2 Free Practice 2Saturday
09:15-09:55 40 min. 125cc Free Practice 3
10:10-10:55 45 min. MotoGP Free Practice 3
11:10-11:55 45 min. Moto2 Free Practice 3
13:00-13:40 40 min. 125cc Qualifying Practice
13:55-14:55 60 min. MotoGP Qualifying Practice
15:10-15:55 45 min. Moto2 Qualifying PracticeSunday
08:40-09:00 20 min. 125cc Warm Up
09:10-09:30 20 min. Moto2 Warm Up
09:40-10:00 20 min. MotoGP Warm Up
11:00 125cc Race
12:15 Moto2 Race
14:00 MotoGP Race