Late start for eight riders on day two in Jerez

Temperatures and track conditions at Jerez on Thursday morning were deemed not to be conducive to testing by the MotoGP riders in attendance, setting the scene for a frantic last few hours of 2008 action at the Spanish track. With programs to be completed ahead of the winter break, the weather threw a spanner in the works on the final day of action overnight, leaving a damp surface to greet the testers.

The first rider on track, Ducati test rider Vittoriano Guareschi, only emerged from the garage after midday, and had a solitary run for his opening laps. As of 2pm, only seven regular riders had joined the Italian in undertaking turns of the circuit, with Colin Edwards the quickest of the group.

Edwards recorded a time of 1´41.641 after his first handful of laps, ahead of Ducati rider Nicky Hayden and San Carlo Honda Gresini´s Toni Elias. Hayden had already improved on his Wednesday time after seven laps of the track.

Notable early absentees were yesterday´s fastest man, Repsol Honda´s Dani Pedrosa, and 2008 MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi. They had both also started work late on the opening day before topping the timesheet.

Official Test action concludes at 6pm local time.