MALAYSIAN GRAND PRIX // DAY 2: FREE PRACTICE

Valentino Rossi. He is the one that the majority of the crowds came to see. It is very interesting to watch how the fans anxiously waited for him for about half an hour in the scorching hot weather of Sepang during the pit walkabout. In front of the Yamaha pit garage, I can hardly see what's going on inside. The crowds where pushing and shoving to get the best spot possible, while the security guys were struggling to keep the situation in control. It makes me realise that I am witnessing history in the making. In golf, you've got Tiger Woods, in tennis there's Roger Federer, Formula 1 and Michael Schumacher and in basketball you've got Michael Jordan. Rossi's name definitely deserves to be mentioned alongside all of these great champions in my opinion... [read more]



The crowd sutrounds the Valentino Rossi and the Yamaha garage (top) while mechanics and team members try and get everything ready for the first Free Practice session of the weekend.

This year's MotoGP at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) revolves around two riders, Valentino Rossi (above) and Jorge Lorenzo. Can Rossi clinch the title here? Or can Lorenzo take the fight until the last round at Valencia in two weeks time?

Although Rossi gets all the attention earlier in the day, Lorenzo (above) takes the limelight during the 1st Free Practice session with the fastest time of 2'02.180. Casey Stoner followed Lorenzo closely, with Dani Pedrosa (below) just over half a second further down at third in the order as Rossi came in fourth.

Dani Pedrosa would finish the day third, just behind Jorge Lorenzo.

Valentino Rossi (above) would finish the first Free Practice session in fourth, just behind Dani Pedrosa.

Casey Stoner (above) would finish the day with a 2'02.180 lap time, fastest overall.


Free Practice 1 results can be seen here

Free Practice 2 and Qualifying will resume tomorrow. Stay tuned for more!

Photo/Editorial: Anas Zakaria