This just in from Kevin Pate of Annandale Racing, via e-mail:

I just wanted to make a comment about the failure to have a Thursday practice (at Fontana), which also affected our team and staff.

I feel the AMA and the manufacturers should want a day of practice to avoid mixing riders with track time and riders that are seeing the track for the first time. I am sure there are going to be 25-30 second-a-lap difference in the first Friday morning practice.

It should be exciting for the spectators, though.