Valentino Rossi turned the fastest lap and his Honda NSR500 reached the highest top speed during the first 500cc practice for the Grand Prix of Japan, held Friday morning Japan time.
Rossi turned a lap at 2:06.602 and reached 300.6 kph (186.79 mph). The rider with the best lap-time-to-mph ratio was third-quickest Noriyuki Haga, who turned a 2:07.107 with a top speed of 290.9 kph (180.77 mph).
Top riders in lap time order follow:
1. Valentino Rossi Honda 2:06.602 300.6 kph
2. Tohru Ukawa Honda 2:06.997 298.4 kph
3. Noriyuki Haga Yamaha 2:07.107 290.9 kph
4. Alex Criville Honda 2:07.290 295.9 kph
5. Loris Capirossi Honda 2:07.387 290.6 kph
6. Norick Abe Yamaha 2:07.450 292.8 kph
7. Shinya Nakano Yamaha 2:07.493 292.3 kph
8. Kenny Roberts Suzuki 2:07.506 289.5 kph
9. Max Biaggi Yamaha 2:07.512 298.2 kph
10. Carlos Checa Yamaha 2:07.748 294.8 kph
11. Alex Barros Honda 2:07.757 290.2 kph
12. Garry McCoy Yamaha 2:07.879 297.6 kph
13. Akira Ryo Suzuki 2:08.809 288.0 kph
14. Sete Gibernau Suzuki 2:08.894 293.3 kph
15. J.L. Cardoso Yamaha 2:10.172 286.8 kph