Updated Post: Gibernau Leads Provisional MotoGP Qualifying At Catalunya

Updated Post: Gibernau Leads Provisional MotoGP Qualifying At Catalunya

© 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

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Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.


1. Sete Gibernau, Honda, 1:42.934
2. Max Biaggi, Honda, 1:43.563
3. Makoto Tamada, Honda, 1:43.708
4. Valentino Rossi, Yamaha, 1:43.710
5. Nickey Hayden, Honda, 1:43.840
6. Carlos Checa, Yamaha, 1:43.860
7. Alex Barros, Honda, 1:43.911
8. Shinya Nakano, Kawasaki, 1:43.948
9. Marco Melandri, Yamaha, 1:44.071
10. Troy Bayliss, Ducati, 1:44.277
11. Loris Capirossi, Ducati, 1:44.290
12. Kenny Roberts, Suzuki, 1:44.302
13. John Hopkins, Suzuki, 1:44.407
14. Colin Edwards, Honda, 1:44.609
15. Alex Hofmann, Kawasaki, 1:44.623
16. Norick Abe, Yamaha, 1:44.988
17. Ruben Xaus, Ducati, 1:45.088
18. Shane Byrne, Aprilia, 1:45.200
19. Neil Hodgson, Ducati, 1:45.586
20. Gregorio Lavilla, Suzuki, 1:46.382
21. Jeremy McWilliams, Aprilia, 1:46.466
22. Andrew Pitt, Moriwaki Honda, 1:46.700
23. Kurtis Roberts, Proton KR, 1:46.945
24. Nobuatsu Aoki, Proton KR, 1:46.957
25. Michel Fabrizio, Harris WCM, 1:47.503
26. Chris Burns, Harris WCM, 1:49.739


From a press release issued by Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha:


YAMAHA MEN START STRONGLY IN SPANISH SCORCHER

Taking turns to dominate most of today’s first MotoGP qualifying session in Catalunya, Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha team-mates Valentino Rossi and Carlos Checa eventually finished the session in provisional fourth and sixth places respectively. The crowd were treated to a fantastic display of speed, as no less than seven riders lapped inside Rossi’s 2003 pole time.

Local-favourite Checa topped the time sheets for most of the first 45 minutes, before last week’s race winner Rossi moved in front of him with just 15 minutes to go. This sparked an entertaining battle for the top places as the leading riders all pushed their hardest in an effort to secure good qualifying positions ahead of tomorrow’s forecast rain. Checa took the lead again once more, before both riders headed back into the garage to change to qualifying tyres with five minutes to go. Rossi quickly set a new best lap of 1:43.710 but was pushed down to fourth as a Honda trio of Sete Gibernau, (1:42.934) Max Biaggi (1:43.563) and Makoto Tamada (1:43.708) all bettered his time. In the closing seconds Nicky Hayden (Honda) shot up the leader board into fifth with a time of 1:43.840, leaving Checa to finish sixth fastest with a final best time of 1:43.860.

VALENTINO ROSSI (4th, 1″43.710)

“I’ve had quite a good day but I have not pushed as hard as I could because I still have some set-up issues and the last laps with qualifying tyres did not go so well. Sete has obviously found his limit and I haven’t yet. Obviously I’d like to be at the front! Even though we still have a way to go I think we’re in quite a good position; maybe even to fight for victory.”

CARLOS CHECA (6th, 1:43.860)

“So far we’ve done some good work, through all the practice this morning and this afternoon. We’ve cleared some things up so I’m quite satisfied. Tomorrow we need to test one more tyre for the race as usual. This afternoon is was difficult to keep consistent times for more than a few laps. I was on a good lap at one point but got held up by another rider so I lost three tenths of a second on turn seven. Because now we only have one lap with qualifying tyres, it’s really important that everyone pays attention to people trying to put in a hot lap.”

DAVIDE BRIVIO, GAULOISES FORTUNA YAMAHA TEAM DIRECTOR

“Both riders went at quite a good pace for the whole session and they’re still at the top level. It was only the last ten minutes, when Valentino had a few problems, as he’s still adjusting his set-up and Carlos unfortunately got held up, that they moved down the time sheets. If the weather is okay tomorrow both riders can try to improve their positions and I think we’re in a good place to try to do that.”



More, from a press release issued by Marlboro Ducati:

MARLBORO DUCATI MEN IN POSITIVE MOOD

Ducati Marlboro Team riders Troy Bayliss and Loris Capirossi finished today’s baking-hot first Catalan GP qualifying session in 10th and 11th positions, confident that they are making good forward progress with their Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedicis. Following last weekend’s Italian GP, where Bayliss and Capirossi had one 2003 bike and one 2004 bike apiece, they’re both back to focusing on this year’s machine here, the team adopting a ‘less is more’ attitude to set-up, making as few changes as possible, so the riders can get fully comfortable with their machinery. “Now that we have a base set-up for this year’s bike we are trying to change as little as possible,” said Ducati Marlboro Team technical director Corrado Cecchinelli. “We are also making a lot of comparisons between the riders’ different set-ups, trying to improve our overall set-up.”

BAYLISS FEELING “PRETTY CHUFFED”
Troy Bayliss was in the hunt for a place on the provisional front row for half of this afternoon’s opening qualifier, run in 30 degree C heat with track temperatures nudging 45 degrees C. And although the Aussie ended up 10th, he reckoned he could have been further up the order if he hadn’t got out of shape during his best qualifying lap. “I feel more comfortable on the bike here,” said the Ducati Marlboro Team man. “We’re doing the same kind of work on set-up, but maybe a bit less than at recent races. I think the fact that I’m so used to riding the bike – I’ve hardly been off the thing in the last week – is also helping. I feel good here and the bike is working good. For a Friday I’m feeling pretty chuffed, especially since I got a bit of the hippy, hippy shakes just before the last fast rights that maybe cost me half a second on my best lap.”

CAPIROSSI IN BETTER SHAPE THAN LAST WEEK
Loris Capirossi was up to sixth during the closing stages of the session, slipping to 11th at the chequered flag. However, the Ducati Marlboro Team rider is in confident mood, making good progress on his bike settings/tyre combination for Sunday’s race. “Overall, I feel that we are in better shape than we were at Mugello, though I feel I have to improve something in myself here,” admitted the Italian. “As far as the bike goes, I’m quite happy with my pace. The conditions are really hot here, which will make life difficult for the tyres on Sunday, which is why I’m concentrating on trying to make the bike more rideable over race distance. My best qualifying lap today was okay, even if not perfect.”

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