Updated Post: Melandri Quickest In Friday 250cc GP Qualifying, Sorensen DNQ At Valencia

Updated Post: Melandri Quickest In Friday 250cc GP Qualifying, Sorensen DNQ At Valencia

© 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

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Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Friday’s 250cc GP Qualifying Times:

1. Marco Melandri, Aprilia, 1:35.885
2. Randy DePuniet, Aprilia, 1:36.293
3. Emilio Alzamora, Honda, 1:36.459
4. Alex Debon, Aprilia, 1:36.552
5. Fonsi Nieto, Aprilia, 1:36.593
6. Sebastian Porto, Yamaha, 1:36.636
7. Toni Elias, Aprilia, 1:36.769
8. Franco Battaini, Aprilia, 1:36.912
9. Casey Stoner, Aprilia, 1:36.971
10. Roberto Rolfo, Honda, 1:37.033
11. Roberto Locatelli, Aprilia, 1:37.099
12. David Checa, Aprilia 1:37.349
13. Naoki Matsudo, Yamaha, 1:37.425
14. Haruchika Aoki, Honda, 1:38.367
15. Shahrol Yuzy, Yamaha, 1:38.411

107% cut-off time: 1:42.597

DNQ. Chuck Sorensen, Aprilia, 1:43.312*

*Broke a transmission gear early in the session and pitted for repairs.

From a press release issued by MS Aprilia:

Marco “Macio” Melandri makes provisional pole

Macio is certainly not resting on his championship laurels and bags provisional pole at Valencia. His Aprilia RSW 250 took him soaring up to a new track record at the Comunitat Valenciana circuit: 1’35.885. Midway through the session, Macio had achieved a stunning series of four laps, when he constantly reduced his times. Then, just as the session was coming to a close, he made his fast lap and won the pole. Macio slowed down, as though waiting for the perfect opportunity with not too much traffic, and then made his final dash. This afternoon, Marco paraded new graphics on his helmet: the number 1 of the World Champion on a metallic gold background. At the end of the session, there were two stars of the Valencia soccer team to greet him in the pits: De los Santos and Amarilla. Tomorrow, there will be the final sessions to decide Sunday’s starting positions.

# 3 Marco Melandri – (MS APRILIA RACING) – 1st – 1’35.885

“I want to have a great race here in Spain and I know Fonsi Nieto and I can put on a fine show for the public here. So I’ve been preparing for Sunday’s race but I was also trying to get a good pole lap. It’s a great track – I love riding here, as it reminds me a bit of minimoto. Right at the very end of the session, after the fast lap for the provisional pole, I could have pushed even harder, but I had to slow down for three falls and three yellow flags. But at that point I’d already got what I wanted. The bike’s going like a bomb and it’s all ready for Sunday – we just need to decide what tyres to put on, and we’ve got a few tests to do.

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