From a press release issed by Honda Racing Information:

ROSSI SNATCHES POLE BUT HONDA RIDERS IN THE HUNT

Five of Honda’s six MotoGP contenders rode their way into the top ten qualifiers here at sunny Welkom in South Africa’s Free State Province today. And it will be Sete Gibernau (Telefonica Movistar Honda RC211V) who lines up on the front row in second place for tomorrow’s race next to pole-sitter Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) with Max Biaggi (Camel Honda RC211V) completing the new three-man front row.

With conditions today mirroring yesterday, despite the threat of rain showers that never materialised, most riders opted to try race distance set-ups for the majority of today’s precious hour of final qualifying. A larger than usual crowd watched as this year’s crop of premier class hopefuls worked hard in the heat.

All Michelin riders, with the exception of Loris Capirossi (Ducati), used a new 16.5″ front tyre that proved able to withstand the rigours of Welkom’s 2.424km track at race pace and distance. Gibernau worked hard at besting Rossi’s 1m 32.647s lap in the closing minutes to try and repeat his pole performance of last year, and couldn’t quite get there. But the Spaniard at least knows that he’s well in contention to repeat his race win of 2003 from the front row.

He’s a mere three hundredths of a second shy of Rossi’s time and Max Biaggi in third is just under three tenths of a second away form the pole time. One of the surprises of the session was the strong showing of Shinya Nakano (Kawasaki). The Japanese headed the session with ten minutes to go before the established front runners blitzed his time on sticky qualifying rubber and pushed him back to sixth overall.

Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC211V) heads the second row in fourth overall and the American has Colin Edwards (Telefonica Movistar Honda RC211V) next to him, a mere one hundredth of a second slower than his countryman Hayden. Alex Barros (Repsol Honda RC211V) will start from the third row in eighth while Makoto Tamada (Camel Honda RC211V) riding on Bridgestone tyres, qualified 12th.

But Gibernau is not entirely happy. “I’m less interested in pole position than in finding a good rhythm and pace over race distance,” he said. “I still don’t have what I’m looking for despite the amount of work we all put in here. Some of that is because of the way the weather has disrupted our test programme this year, but we have the warm-up tomorrow to see if we can get closer to what we’re looking for.”

For Biaggi things are looking better. “We have a good pace I think,” he said. “We worked hard at adapting the set-up to this track and HRC has worked hard with us and supported us enough to make sure I will be fighting for a win. Our thoughts and sympathy are with Antonio’s family and we will all do our utmost in his memory.” (Antonio Cobas, who died last week, was Camel Honda’s Technical Director)

Nicky Hayden said, “We seemed to have two totally different sessions out there. At the beginning we couldn’t get the bikes to run properly. Then we got things sorted out. Overall I’m real happy with the way things ended and I’m really looking forward to tomorrow.”

Texan Colin Edwards, although not fully dialled into this race yet, is optimistic. “I’m happy enough. We tested a lot of worn tyres from this morning’s session to get used to the set-up we need towards the end of tomorrow’s race when the rubber will be worn. The bike’s not 100% yet but we’ve got more testing time after the race at Jerez in two weeks, so we should be fully ready real soon.”

Brazilian Alex Barros is ready to race despite only managing to qualify eighth fastest. “We’ve improved from yesterday and the bike feels good. The main problem was stability in the fast corners but I’m confident we can improve. We have to make the final tyre decision in the warm-up tomorrow but I’m almost sure I know which way to go.”

“It was too bad I couldn’t do better when it was time to put in a hot lap,” said 12th fastest qualifier Makoto Tamada. “I’m still trying to get the right feel for this track but the set-up is clear and I’ll attack right from the start and try to get away with the front-runners.”

Honda’s new recruit to the 250cc class, the reigning 125cc World Champion Danny Pedrosa (Telefonica Movistar Junior Team RS250RW) began his new career in the quarter-litre class by qualifying on the front row of the (four rider) grid in fourth place. Randy de Puniet, Sebas Porto and reigning World Champion Manuel Poggiali (all Aprilia) will start in that order in first, second and third.

Pedrosa looks in better shape than the other Honda runners in this class at the moment, as the Spaniard is only three tenths of a second adrift of de Puniet’s 1m 35.300s pole time. Roberto Rolfo (Fortuna Honda RS250RW) qualified seventh and will start from row two, but the 2003 Championship runner-up lies 1.31 seconds shy of the pole time.

Next to Rolfo is Eric Bataille (Wurth Honda BQR RS250R) who appears to be starting this season where he left off in 2003 – with strong, consistent rides. The Frenchman is one grid slot in front of Hiroshi Aoyama (Telefonica Movistar Junior Team RS250RW) who qualified ninth. Tony Elias (Fortuna Honda RS250RW) qualified 11th and starts from the third row.

“To be on the front row is brilliant,” said Pedrosa. “The team and me are working really well and I feel positive every time I get on the track. I’m improving every time out but that’s because I’m a rookie and I’ve got a lot to learn. I’m even one and a half seconds faster than yesterday and finding answers all the time.”

Rolfo is less concerned about his seventh spot than many others would be. “The front end is better now,” said the Italian. “I could tell instantly when we got it right and although I’m not on the best place on the grid the bike gets better every time I ride it and although I’ll have a lot to do tomorrow, we’ll see what happens in the race.”

The 125cc class final qualifying session was another exercise in brinkmanship with yesterday’s provisional pole-sitter Roberto Locatelli (Aprilia) looking to consolidate his position. But Andrea Dovisioso (Team Scot Honda RS125R) was in flying form on this second day of qualifying and he snatched the pole in the final stages of the half-hour session with a 1m 40.942s lap.

Locatelli will line up alongside the Italian Honda rider in tomorrow’s 24-lap race and knows that being only eight hundredths slower than Dovizioso should not prove too much of a handicap. In third place on the grid will be Mirko Giansanti (Aprilia) whose best lap was a 1m 41.193s time. Frenchman Mike Di Meglio (Aprilia) completes the front row.

Julian Simon (Angaia Racing Honda RS125R) qualified in tenth position and rookie Dario Giuseppetti (Elit Grand Prix Honda RS125R) will start from the fourth row of the grid in 16th in his first race of the season.

“We’re in good shape,” said Dovizioso. “I set that pole time on used tyres. We’ve had some small suspension problems but with Showa’s help we’ve sorted them out. We’ve worked hard, the engine is good and I want a good start to get away. You don’t want to be stuck in a big group during the final laps here.”

Simon said. “Everything’s fine. The engine is good, I’m getting a bit of front-end chatter on the final right hand turns here but apart from that it’s all good. The back end slides a bit in the fast turns but that’s normal and nothing to worry about.”


HONDA TEAM QUOTES:

MotoGP:

Nicky Hayden, Repsol Honda Team, 4th: “That could have been really ugly! We had two totally different sessions there. In the beginning we just couldn’t get the bikes to run properly. I just kept going backwards and backwards. Then we got things sorted out and I went out with the qualification tyre. I was pretty nervous as I didn’t get one clear lap yesterday and I knew I had to salvage something. Those Michelin qualifiers are something else. So much grip! I never even saw the P1 board! Overall I’m real happy with the way it ended. The set-up is good and P4 should be less dusty than a start on the inside. Really looking forward to tomorrow.”

Sete Gibernau, Telefonica MoviStar Honda: 2nd: “I’m not completely satisfied of my position, tomorrow morning we will try some new solutions in order to improve the pace and the feeling with the bike. This afternoon we did some endurance practices with the tyres used during the free practice of the morning but we still need to work in order to find the best setting. All in all I’m confident because I have the best team and I’m confident in myself.”

Colin Edwards, Telefonica MoviStar Honda: 5th: “Today we did a good job working for the race. I lapped with a good rhythm. I had a good pace even if there wasn’t the occasion to score a fast lap. For sure we need more time to test, the rain spoiled both Irta test sessions so we will continue the development of the bike during the two-day test scheduled at Jerez immediately after the race.”

Fausto Gresini, Team Manager: ” Today we did a good job. For sure we need to test some more solutions tomorrow morning in order to find the best setting for the race. I’m sure it will be a tough race for everyone and very interestesting but I’m confident the Team Telefonica MoviStar riders will be fighting in front.”

Alex Barros, Repsol Honda Team, 8th: “We’ve improved from yesterday and the bike feels good. We made some small adjustments and it was in the right direction. The main problem is the stability in the fast corners but I’m confident we can improve. The front of the grid is very tight and we’re not so far away. My qualifying tyre was a little cool and in turn 1 and 2 I lost a little time but the main thing is I’m happy with the race set-up. We have to make the final tyre decision in the warm up tomorrow morning but I’m nearly 100% sure I know which way to go. I’m looking forward to the first race for the team tomorrow!”

Sito Pons – Camel Honda (Team Principal) : “Max’s first row is a reward for the work everyone has done to get the best settings on the bike worked out. He’s got the right rhythm for the race and we’ll be playing a prominent role in the race precisely because the pace set during this qualifying session was the best. So we can now hope for victory. The team’s working really hard and I’m sure everyone will do their very best.”

Max Biaggi – Camel Honda (Michelin tyres) – 3rd: “I’m very pleased with the way the session went today because I managed to achieve a rhythm that I didn’t get yesterday, so we’ve made a good step forward. We’ve worked well, combining our work on the settings to adapt the bike to this track, and the adjustment of the materials that Honda has given us. For this, I’d like to thank HRC for all the support they’re giving us, so we can stay out in the front and fight for victory. Our thoughts can only go to Antonio, who is no longer with us. We’ll try to do our very best for him too. It’ll be important to start off well tomorrow, and then we’ll see what strategy to adopt. But we’ll sure be making our mark.

Gianluca Montiron – Camel Honda – (Makoto Tamada Team Manager) : “The preparation work for the race was extremely intense and we didn’t manage to make best use of the closing phases of the session when the time came to aim for a good position on the starting grid. Makoto still has to improve his feeling for the track, especially in the closing section before the home straight. I’m trusting in his determination and in his ability to move up during the race.”

Makoto Tamada – Camel Honda (Bridgestone tyres) – 12th: “A pity – I wasn’t able to do better and I’m starting out from a position that isn’t exactly ideal. Even so, we’ve made the best choices for the race and also on the tyre front I’ve got my ideas clear. It’ll be a race in which I have to go flat out so that I can move up, but I know how to do this so I can say I’m feeling pretty relaxed about tomorrow.”


250cc:

Dani Pedrosa, Telefonica MoviStar Honda Jnr Team, 4th: “Today was incredible for me and the team. It was a great surprise but my goal for tomorrow is to finish the race and gain experience racing a 250. The winter was very hard for me and I didn’t expect this, I’m very happy. I have found a very good rhythm but not high enough to hold De Puniet and Porto.”

Hiroshi Aoyama, Telefonica MoviStar Honda Jnr Team, 9th: “This morning in free practice I broke my engine and did not get back to the pit to recover lost ground. In qualifying I recovered to get ninth place n the grid. The big surprise for me was the last 10 minutes of final qualifying, everybody rides like crazy to get a time. I hope to do well tomorrow but I have a very bad cold and sore throat. The Clinica Mobile are giving me treatment so I hope to be in better shape for the race.”

Eric Bataille, Wurth Honda BQR, 8th: “The evolution Honda have made with the bike from last year to now is very impressive. The bike is faster and the power constant. I like the new chassis and the new Showa suspension. Honda has worked hard and if we work harder we can improve even more. I set my time on race tyres so my eighth place is a good omen for the race. I set the time behind Poggiali and felt OK.”

Jakub Smrz, Molenaar Honda, 21st: “Not too bad, I was 15th with about 15 minutes to go. I came into the pit for new tyres but had a brake fade problem and some guys set better times. Now I’m 21st on the grid but only 0.4s off 14th so I’m happy.”

125cc:

Andrea Dovizioso. Kopron Scot Honda, Pole position: “We are in very good shape, we set the time on race tyres. We had a few small problems adjusting to the suspension but together with Showa we have worked hard and improve with every practice, I’m happy. The engine is very good and I already know which race tyre to use. I need a good start and if I get one I will try and get away from the group because it will be hard work over the last few laps if I’m in the group.”

Julian Simon, Angaia Racing Honda, 10th: “Everything is fine. My engine is running really well. I just have a little front-end chatter but only at the right hand corners just before the end of the lap. The back-end slides around a little coming off the corners but nothing to worry about. I’m really looking forward to the race.”

Simone Corsi, Kopron Scot Honda, 21st: “In the winter tests I couldn’t get a good feeling from the bike, it took time to adjust to the settings of the new machine. Now after four hours here at Welkom I have improved a lot and will be faster tomorrow. I’m confident I will improve on my qualifying performance.”

Thomas Luthi, Elit Honda, 23rd: “Not my day today, I just had no grip on the rear. I tried the wide rear tyre in the first half of qualifying today but was not too happy with the feeling. Then I went out with the smaller profile but although I went a little faster the rear end was sliding a lot when I got on the gas out of the corners. We have to work on the suspension settings and try something else in the warm up.”

Robin Harms, Ajo Motorsports Honda, 22nd: “This is my first time on the bike, we have had no real testing. But I’ve raced a Honda before so it’s not all-new for me but we have a lot of work to do. The engine working well, and the suspension is good, the rest we have to work on. I’m going into the race learning about the bike. I’m focused on that not chasing points but I hope to score some all the same.”

Raymond Schouten Molenaar Honda, 34th: “I have no grip on the rear, the back end slides a lot when I get on the throttle off the corners. I an catch riders running into the corners but cant hold them when we exit the corner. We have a few things to try on chassis and suspension tonight so we will know a little more after the warm up.”