During the first Free Practice session of the MotoGP in Le Mans, Valentino Rossi set the fastest lap time on his final turn around the track. Rossi edged out Casey Stoner by .1 second, and pulled ahead of the season leader, Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo.
Stoner had the victory in sight as riders entered the final minutes of the first free practice session. But Rossi turned in a time of 1'34.402 to best Stoner and Lorenzo.
Andrea Dovizioso came in next for Honda, with Repsol Honda teammate Dani Padrosa completing the top five. The top five riders were all under 1'35".
Alvaro Bautista rode through the pain of a recent operation on his collarbone. Bautista completed 19 laps, and finished 3 seconds behind Rossi.
MotoGP - Le Mans - Free Practice 1
1. ITA Fiat Yamaha Team 1m 34.402s
2. AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 1m 34.508s
3. SPA Fiat Yamaha Team 1m 34.542s
4. ITA Repsol Honda Team 1m 34.625s
5. SPA Repsol Honda Team 1m 34.989s
6. USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1m 35.089s
7. USA Ducati Marlboro Team 1m 35.223s
8. Ben Spies USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1m 35.291s
9. Aleix Espargaro SPA Pramac Racing 1m 35.45s
10. ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1m 35.643s
11. ITA Rizla Suzuki 1m 35.685s
12. Marco Simoncelli ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1m 35.959s
13. Hector Barbera SPA Paginas Amarillas Aspar 1m 36.009s
14. FRA LCR Honda 1m 36.086s
15. FIN Pramac Racing 1m 36.292s
16. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN Interwetten Honda 1m 36.798s
17. Alvaro Bautista SPA Rizla Suzuki 1m 37.525s
