Anthony Gobert is in his street clothes, talking to reporters. His fast lap of the day, a 1:48.428 is just a blink slower than the track record of 1:48.424 set by Mat Mladin a year ago. Gobert is out of qualifying tires and has decided that time will have to do.

That seems like a good plan. Get out of here in one piece, with fastest time and bragging rights.

Right up until Honda rolled the HRC RC51 down the pit lane towards Nicky Hayden, it's fairing still stained with oil, but with a fresh HRC engine in it to replace the one that grenaded with Miguel DuHamel aboard.

40 minutes to go and Hayden is in the 1:48s, but about three full tenths away from Gobert's fast time. And he has yet to swing a leg over the rejuvenated RC51 as yet.

Stay tuned.