Monster Yamaha Tech3 Team riders Cal Crutchlow and Bradley Smith enjoyed a promising and productive start to preparations for this weekend’s US Grand Prix at the spectacular Laguna Seca track today.

Crutchlow’s pursuit of a fifth podium in six races got off to a flying start in cool and cloudy conditions this morning, the British rider excelling in temperatures of just 14 degrees to top the FP1 timesheets ahead of fellow Yamaha YZR-M1 rider Valentino Rossi.

A best lap of 1.22.757 put him 0.091s clear of the chasing pack and in improved conditions for this afternoon’s second session, which took place under gloriously sunny California skies, the 27-year-old was able to lap 0.3s faster.

Crutchlow finished the first day in fifth position on the combined timesheets, his fast and consistent rhythm putting him less than 0.2s outside of the top three and he is confident that he has the speed to challenge for a fifth front row start of the 2013 World Championship in tomorrow’s qualifying.

Smith’s first experience of the short but technically challenging Laguna Seca track was a positive one and he was impressively close to the best pace after delivering another confident and assured performance.

The 22-year-old was able to sample the world-renowned and jaw-dropping Corkscrew section for the first time on a MotoGP bike this morning and he set the ninth best time while working on improving the set-up of his YZR-M1 machine. Smith then produced an incredible display in FP2, the British rookie lapping 1.5s faster than he did this morning.

Although he lost one position and ended the day 10th on combined rankings, the gap between Smith and the fastest time in both sessions was slashed in half and his best pace of 1.22.767 was less than 0.5s away from second position.

Cal Crutchlow 5th 1.22.457 - 23 Laps :

“I was happy to be fastest this morning although I knew the conditions were not ideal and that the lap times would be faster in the second session. Unfortunately I didn’t make the step I was looking for and the issues are in the first and third timed sectors. I am fastest in the second and fourth splits so if we can improve the weak points I am confident I can be much closer to the front. The problem is stopping the bike and I don’t have much grip but at least in T2 and T4 I am very strong. The good thing is I know where we need to improve and I am sure that my Monster Yamaha Tech 3 crew will give me an improved package tomorrow and I am confident I will be battling for the front row again in qualifying. We know we can improve but today’s performance was very impressive from Marc. He has come here and been fastest after a couple of hours so hopefully we can get closer to him.”

Bradley Smith 10th 1.22.767 - 24 Laps :

"Obviously the first day on track in Laguna Seca is exciting and actually it has been a quite positive one for us, especially this afternoon when the track conditions improved a lot. We were able to try several settings, both front and rear, and I believe that we found the right way for tomorrow. I think a gap of 0.7 sec is a good step for the first day, although we have to consider that this is a very short track and it might be one or 1,2 seconds on a normal one, but it's been a good start. I’m pleased to say that I like the track, the Corkscrew and the Rainey corner are probably my favorites but I still have to be very careful on the right hand side here, as it seems very tricky. At the moment I’m still building confidence, particularly in Turn 3 and 4. But all in all a really good start to the weekend and I’m looking forward to continuing like this."

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