Highlights

Rossi quickest in Motegi practice

(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-09-22 17:15

Valentino Rossi sent an early warning to MotoGP championship leader Nicky Hayden on Friday by topping the first day of practice for Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix.

World champion Rossi, who trails Hayden by 21 points with three races remaining this season, won the first psychological battle at Motegi, the Italian clocking a fastest lap of one minute 46.981 seconds.

Japan's Shinya Nakano was second quickest behind Rossi's Yamaha with a time of 1:47.315 on his Kawasaki.

American Hayden was only fifth fastest on his Honda in a time of 1:47.610.

Italian Marco Melandri, who won last weekend's rain-hit Australian race to keep his slim title chances alive, was third in a time of 1:47.449.

Hayden currently has 225 points in the championship with a surging Rossi on 204 as he bids for his sixth straight top-class title. Melandri and Spanish Honda rider Dani Pedrosa are on 193.

The MotoGP season closes with races in Portugal and Spain.