Poor weather halts first MotoGP session in Portugal

The first practice of the bwin Grande Premio de Portugal was a washout for the MotoGP class as wind, rain and electrical storms meant that unfavourable conditions resulted in an extremely quiet 45-minute session.

Standing water on parts of the track and poor visibility meant that the risky conditions remained untested by the majority of the riders with Interwetten Honda MotoGP Team rider Hiroshi Aoyama and, towards the very end of the session, Carlos Checa (Pramac Racing) the only two to complete laps. The Japanese rider registered a time of 2’21.217, the only lap on the timesheet by the close of the session.

The MotoGP riders will hope for improved conditions for the scheduled second practice, which is due to get underway at 2.05pm local time, weather permitting.