Hayden starts fastest on Friday morning

Nicky Hayden was the fastest rider of the morning in Valencia with a time of 1´47.694 in the morning practice session, nearly eight-tenths of a second faster than anyone else on track.

At the circuit where he took the 2006 MotoGP World Championship crown, the American was the only man to go round in under 1´48. Second quickest was the man who he will join in the Ducati factory team garage from Monday, Casey Stoner, who fell during the session.

Chasing the rookie of the year crown in direct competition with rival Andrea Dovizioso, Fiat Yamaha´s Jorge Lorenzo placed third in Free Practice 1, the fastest home rider of the run.

Fellow countryman and 2007 racewinner Dani Pedrosa was fourth, ahead of Sylvain Guintoli, Colin Edwards, Anthony West, Chris Vermeulen, Shinya Nakano and Dovizioso. 2008 World Champion Valentino Rossi could only manage thirteenth at the circuit which has been his bogey track in recent years.