Lorenzo tries to avoid Laguna crash out

Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo takes a 47-point lead over countryman Dani Pedrosa into tonight's US Grand Prix but the Laguna Seca circuit could be a place for Pedrosa to make a move.

The ninth of 18 races this season takes place on a 3,610m layout where Honda-racer Pedrosa is the defending champion and Yamaha's Lorenzo has a history of crashing on cold tyres.

"I have some painful memories of this track," Lorenzo said.

"In 2008 I crashed on cold tyres in the first corner and injured my feet. Last year I crashed twice on cold tyres, once on the front and once on the rear, but then went on to get pole and finish on the podium.

"Laguna is certainly a special place, very different to the rest of the circuits we race at, but I like riding here."

Casey Stoner posted the fastest practice time on Friday.

Stoner, of Queensland, seized the early lead with a time of 1'26:364, and later recorded a lap of 1'21.699. Lorenzo was second in the session with 1'21.932 while Andrea Dovizioso was third in 1'22.225.

Pedrosa was fourth (1'22.559) while American Ben Spies rounded out the top five (1'22.640).

Lorenzo, second last week in Germany, has finished first or second in the first eight races of the season, becoming the first rider since Italian team-mate Valentino Rossi to reach the podium in eight races to start a season.

Pedrosa won in Germany and has won twice at Laguna Seca. He has every intention of moving closer to Lorenzo.

"The championship still isn't over as I think the gap to Jorge Lorenzo can be closed," Pedrosa said.

"We have a lot of races to go, but we can only take things race by race and do the best we can.

"The last few races have been good for us and I have good memories from this race last year. I hope that this weekend we will have more good memories to take away from Laguna Seca with us."

Rossi made his return last week from a broken leg suffered six weeks before at Mugello and settled for fourth when Stoner beat him at the last turn.

He could also thrive at Laguna, where he won in 2008 and settled for second last year.

"After the race in Germany I didn't have any extra problems, especially with my leg, so I'm in quite good shape," Rossi said.

"If I can ride like at Sachsenring it's possible to have a good weekend here."

Current standings

1. Lorenzo 185 points, 2. Pedrosa 138, 3. Dovizioso 102, 4. Stoner 83, 5. Hayden 78, 6. Rossi 74, 7. De Puniet 69, 8. Spies 67, 9. Simoncelli 49, 10. Melandri 45.