Sixth-fastest for Andrea Dovizioso at Estoril today. image: thanks, JiR Team Scot

Honda won't test the pneumatic valve motor on Monday as previously planned. There are still issues with the power delivery—not reliability.

Yamaha's satellite team, Tech 3, do have the pneumatic valve motors they were promised for Colin Edwards and James Toseland.

With the subject of China and the Olympic torch relay firmly at the top of the international news agenda, not everyone is happy about the prospect of competing in Shanghai next month. Loris Capirossi was particularly vocal on the subject at the event opening press conference, banging his fist down on the table and declaring himself '100% for Tibet'. Loris was then challenged by a veteran Italian journalist (and stirrer) to wave a Tibetan flag on the grid, not just talk. After muttering that such a course of action might be dangerous, Loris was riled to enough to suggest he might feel it necessary to do something.

After the press conference, Loris told the questioner (me) that he was 'very happy for the question.' Some of you may remember that many years ago he carried an Amnesty International patch on his leathers. After that incident with Harada it was suggested that he might be a client of the human-rights organization rather than a supporter...

Friday was one of those days, a wet morning session followed by a dry afternoon meant we didn't learn too much about what is likely to happen on Sunday. Most of the main players have cause for optimism. Casey Stoner isn't as high up the order as usual but only did four handful of laps this morning (he was fastest) and crashed on his out-lap this afternoon: "we didn't get any track time today." He is confident for tomorrow.

Nicky Hayden spent more time talking about riding that Indian V-twin at Indianapolis than he did about today's track time. The news that the pneumatic-valve engine won't be available for testing on Monday and therefore is very unlikely to be used in China must have come as unwelcome news but all he allowed himself to say was that he'd like a bit more top-end power. But he made the point that he has no complaints about his motor today. He reminded the press that he set pole and the fastest lap here last year but did say that he hadn't been down the big straight alongside anyone today so hadn't had a chance to compare his engine, the last of the steel valve- spring users, with anything else.

Loris was then challenged by a veteran Italian journalist (and stirrer) to wave a Tibetan flag on the grid, not just talk. After muttering that such a course of action might be dangerous, Loris was riled to enough to suggest he might feel it necessary to do something.

A quick look at the sheets shows three Hondas in the top six, including the increasingly impressive Dovizioso's satellite team bike, so it doesn't look like anyone is suffering too much.

Colin Edwards, enjoying his first race with a pneumatic-valve engine, was never far from the top of the timing screens and ended the day third. Rossi was second but had a big crash this morning in the never-ending final corner. Too much lean angle on a constant throttle meant the rear lost grip and he was highsided. His back hurts but only when he walks, it's no problem on the bike. Traction control didn't come to his aid because the crash was due to lean angle not loss of grip while accelerating.

Unluckiest man of the day—again!—was Toni Elias. A bit of clutch shot him in the right foot when the motor let go coming on to the main straight.

Fastest man of the day? A very stealthy and controlled Dani Pedrosa. He's never won two MotoGP races back-to-back. That could be about to change.