Both Pedrosa and Hayden rode their fastest laps on their 2008 bikes - which nonetheless feature a 2007 spring-valve engine - but after being left just tenth (Pedrosa) and 13th (Hayden) on the timesheets neither was prepared to rule out racing the 2007 bike, which is of the same spec as that used at Valencia last November, when Pedrosa took the pole position, race victory and the lap record.
"The two bikes feel different, but it's still too early to decide which we' re going to race," confirmed Pedrosa, who was lucky to walk away from a high-speed fall at Turn 14 after making contact with
Valentino Rossi during the second session.
Hayden also took a trip through the floodlit Losail gravel, but was able to stay on two wheels. The American finished day one of the 2008 racing season as the slowest Honda rider.
"That wasn't spectacular by any means, but we knew it wasn't going to be easy coming in here because we had a tough test here last week," said the 2006 world champion. "Tonight we were checking a completely different set-up, so we'll definitely have to sit down tonight and make a decision on which bike to use and take the big step forward tomorrow. So far the 07 bike is better in braking and it's more stable in changes of direction, but the lap times were very close.
"I'd say tonight's track conditions were better than the tests, I expected the track to be dirtier but it was okay. Tyres aren't an issue, the tyres are working good. My last lap I was hoping to improve, I was pushing hard and ran off the track at a pretty fast place. I took a ride through the gravel but stayed on the bike, so it was okay," he added.
"Today wasn't so easy for us but I think we are learning a lot," insisted Repsol Honda team manager Kazuhiko Yamano. "Dani used a new chassis in his 08 bike tonight and it gives him a better front feeling. He was unlucky to have a fall tonight and it seems his right hand is very painful again.
