Who was the fastest Honda rider in the first Laguna Seca session? Not two-time race winner Nicky Hayden or Sachenring winner Dani Pedrosa on the factory bikes, but Gresini Honda's Marco Melandri.

Marco crashed three times in his first trip to Laguna in 2005, including during the race. It was a bad weekend for the Italian, but he came back strong last year, earning the podium with a third place finish. And he's fast once again this year.

Melandri is currently the focus of 2008 silly season rumors. It is said that he has a clause in his contract that activates a Ducati option if he finishes the '07 championship in a lofty points position.