Laguna providing more of a challenge for Rossi

Valentino Rossi admitted after his first hour on track at the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix that he was experiencing more pain than he had done last weekend at Sachsenring. The Fiat Yamaha rider was sixth fastest in the first practice at Laguna Seca, almost a full second off pace setter Casey Stoner, as he felt the effects of his continually recovering leg and shoulder injuries.

"This track is a bit harder for me than Sachsenring and I have more pain than I had there, mostly in the ankle but also in the shoulder at the breaking point before the Corkscrew,” explained the 31 year-old, who won at Laguna in 2008 and was second last season. “Aside from that I think we can be better tomorrow.”

Discussing the technical aspects, Rossi continued: “We haven't put everything together yet to be at our full potential on the track and if we had a few more laps today we could have been a bit further up. We used the hard tyre at the end but the track was maybe a bit dirty for it. Tomorrow we will try the soft tyre also in the front.”

Rossi also noted the special livery being displayed by him and team-mate Jorge Lorenzo, to mark the launch of the Fiat 500 car in the United States.

“I like the special livery; it's something different and fun. Tomorrow I will have a helmet to go with it!" he concluded.