Spanish MotoGP, Jerez
Date: 1-2 May
Saturday 1 May: Qualifying: 1150-1500 BST, BBC Red Button/online (Freeview coverage from 1300-1500)
Sunday 2 May: 125cc and Moto2 races: 0950-1205, BBC Red Button/online (Moto2 race not available on Freeview) Race live: 1230-1400 BST, BBC Two/online; MotoGP extra: 1400-1430, BBC Red Button/online (Not Freeview)

Rossi avoided painkillers to assess the extent of his injury

Valentino Rossi admitted feeling pain from his recent shoulder injury as he was fifth fastest in Friday's practice session for the Spanish MotoGP.

After winning the season-opening race in Qatar reigning world champion, Rossi was injured in a motocross accident.

"I didn't take painkillers so I could understand the level - we'll consider something for the pain on Saturday and Sunday," he said.

"It's sore, especially in the harder braking areas, but I can ride."

Ducati rider Casey Stoner clocked the fastest time on Friday, ahead of Rossi's Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo, and his own Ducati colleague Nicky Hayden.

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Stoner's day was curtailed by a crash similar to the one he had when out clear in the lead at the race in Qatar.

But the Australian conceded the spill had actually been useful as it helped him get a better understand of what happened last time out.

"The crash at the end was a similar situation to Qatar - I went into the corner with less pressure on the front and it closed," Stoner reflected.

"It's never nice to crash but at least it gives us a better understanding of what happened in Qatar and which direction we need to take with the set-up over the rest of the weekend."

Jerez is the second race of the season after last week's race in Japan had to be postponed until October because of the travel chaos caused by the recent volcanic ash cloud.

The enforced break in the schedule was a blessing in disguise for Yamaha duo Rossi and Lorenzo, as it gave both of them time to recover from injury.

Lorenzo finished second in Qatar despite a pre-season hand injury and reported that his ride on Friday was his first pain-free since that incident.

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