The session started out with a marine layer overcast and 58 degrees F/14C, and while it didn't warm up much, the sun did break through halfway through the hour-long session.

Little known fact - Rossi did not put a photo sticker of his dog on his SuperKart during Thursday's exhibition. "Only for MotoGP" he said. Rossi personally affixes this photo sticker of his dog on the seat of his motorcycle before each race. One of his superstitions.

Gill Campbell, President & General Manager of SCRAMP (Sports Car Racing Association of Monterey Peninsula - which runs Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca) said this year's MotoGP ticket sales were somewhat down, which was expected given the current economic climate. This year the fans were waiting later to purchase tickets, compared to previous years. But Friday's ticket sales were up over 2008.

The Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix at Laguna Seca is the only MotoGP venue to allow fans in the MotoGP paddock, and 5,000 were in Pit Lane on Friday. The economic impact of MotoGP on the Monterey Peninsula is $100 million, half of the annual overall economic impact Laguna Seca has on the community.

Overall, only five percent of the ticket sales at Laguna for the year come from locals. Most of the race fans come from elsewhere. Expected Saturday attendance is 32-35,000, and 132,000 for the weekend.

by Lynne Huntting