Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Phillip Island, Australia
Friday Afternoon Qualifying Results:

MotoGP Qualifying Times:

1. Valentino ROSSI, Honda, 1:30.631
2. Loris CAPIROSSI, Ducati, 1:30.721
3. Troy BAYLISS, Ducati, 1:30.834
4. Max BIAGGI, Honda, 1:31.089
5. Sete GIBERNAU, Honda, 1:31.091
6. Nicky HAYDEN, Honda, 1:31.515
7. Carlos CHECA, Yamaha, 1:31.554
8. Garry McCOY, Kawasaki, 1:32.003
9. Jeremy McWILLIAMS, Proton, 1:32.036
10. Tohru UKAWA, Honda, 1:32.118
11. Olivier JACQUE, Yamaha, 1:32.225
12. Andrew PITT, Kawasaki, 1:32.562
13. Shinya NAKANO, Yamaha, 1:32.622
14. Marco MELANDRI, Yamaha, 1:32.627
15. Kenny ROBERTS, Suzuki, 1:32.643
16. Noriyuki HAGA, Aprilia, 1:32.662
17. John HOPKINS, Suzuki, 1:32.767
18. Colin EDWARDS, Aprilia, 1:32.799
19. Alex BARROS, Yamaha, 1:33.111
20. Makoto TAMADA, Honda, 1:33.163
21. David DE GEA, Harris WCM, 1:34.957
22. Ryuichi KIYONARI, Honda, 1:35.227
23. Chris BURNS, Harris WCM, 1:35.623
DNQ, Nobuatsu AOKI, Proton, no time


250cc Qualifying Times:

1. Sebastian PORTO, Honda, 1:33.962
2. Franco BATTAINI, Aprilia, 1:34.036
3. Toni ELIAS, Aprilia, 1:34.567
4. Fonsi NIETO, Aprilia, 1:34.772
5. Randy DE PUNIET, Aprilia, 1:34.868
6. Manuel POGGIALI, Aprilia, 1:34.894
7. Roberto ROLFO, Honda, 1:35.239
8. Sylvain GUINTOLI, Aprilia, 1:35.270
9. Jaroslav HULES, Honda, 1:35.280
10. Naoki MATSUDO, Yamaha, 1:35.394
11. Anthony WEST, Aprilia, 1:35.631
12. Dirk HEIDOLF, Aprilia, 1:36.109
13. Hugo MARCHAND, Aprilia, 1:36.188
14. Alex DEBON, Honda, 1:36.255
15. Alex BALDOLINI, Aprilia, 1:36.326
16. Erwan NIGON, Aprilia, 1:36.348
17. Johan STIGEFELT, Aprilia, 1:36.477
18. Eric BATAILLE, Honda, 1:36.498
19. Chaz DAVIES, Aprilia, 1:36.784
20. Joan OLIVE, Aprilia, 1:37.237

26. Katja POENSGEN, Honda, 1:41.647


125cc Qualifying Times:

1. Jorge LORENZO, Derbi, 1:37.802
2. Hector BARBERA, Aprilia, 1:37.824
3. Marco SIMONCELLI, Aprilia, 1:38.088
4. Casey STONER, Aprilia, 1:38.142
5. Andrea DOVIZIOSO, Honda, 1:38.282
6. Stefano PERUGINI, Aprilia, 1:38.282
7. Steve JENKNER, Aprilia, 1:38.424
8. Mika KALLIO, KTM, 1:38.492
9. Lucio CECCHINELLO, Aprilia, 1:38.672
10. Mirko GIANSANTI, Aprilia, 1:38.690


More, from a press release issued by Alice Aprilia Racing Information:

AUSTRALIA GP/1st QUALIFYING SESSION

HAGA ENJOYED HIS SESSION, PROBLEMS FOR COLIN

First day of qualifying practices at Phillip Island track for the Alice Aprilia Racing Team riders. Nori Haga got a positive session even if in the Japanese rider found some traffic during his fastest lap. Colin Edwards had some problems on the bike no1. and was unable to improve. Good results about the chassis set up: the chattering problems have been reduced and for tomorrow there are good expectations to get a better result for the grid.

COLIN EDWARDS: “Unfortunately I had a technical problem on the bike no. 1 during the fastest laps: I was unable to push hard. Anyway I feel rather competitive and will try to improve my position tomorrow”.

NORIYUKI HAGA: “This is my favourite track: I like it very much. I feel happy because I got a good feeling with the bike and for sure tomorrow my position in the grid could improve. I expected a better result today as well but I the last laps when I was pushing hard I found Kyonari and Bayliss on my road. I lost too much time but I do not care because it’s only Friday. I absolutely want to have a great race here!”

GIGI DALL’IGNA (Project Leader): “Today Nori was very motivated and steady: I am sure he could improve without the traffic in the last part of the session. I am bit disappointed for Colin but he will be able to get a good position in tomorrows session. We reduced the chattering problem and this is a good sign: this means that we are working in the right way”.


More, from a press release issued by Proton Team KR:
McWill 9th Quick

Lone McWilliams challenges establishment

Jeremy McWilliams: 9th, 1:32 .036
Nobuatsu Aoki: no time

Proton Team KR rider Jeremy McWilliams threw down the gauntlet to the established big-factory teams in today’s first qualifying session for Sunday’s Australian GP, putting the independent England-made Proton KR V5 in ninth position, the best so far for the eight-race-old prototype.
The 4.448km circuit is one of the veteran Ulster rider’s favourites – last year he put the three-cylinder two-stroke Proton KR3 500 on its first pole position, his third at the picturesque seaside circuit.

The strong performance came after consistently hard riding by McWilliams, and courtesy of the good performance of the team’s Bridgestone tyres. McWilliams had been running in the top ten in the morning free training as well, although narrowly bumped to 12th at the finish.
But McWilliams was riding alone, after team-mate Nobuatsu Aoki was forced to miss the first of two timed sessions, following a spill in this morning’s free practice. The Japanese rider was on a fast lap when he came upon countryman Nori Haga (Aprilia), who had just come out of the pits, but was on the racing line at the fast and looping Turn Two. Put off line, Aoki slid off.
Though he walked away, Aoki was later suffering from a sore neck. Doctors demanded a precautionary X-ray, but because the equipment at the track medical centre was not good enough to provide a sufficiently clear and detailed image, he had to be taken to hospital in Dandenong for the check-up. This is at least an hour-and-a-half away by road, and this meant Aoki inevitably missed the timed afternoon session.

There is one more day of practice and qualifying before Sunday’s race. Today’s practice took place in fine and sunny conditions, the ever-ready rain and biting cold winds for which Phillip Island is notorious staying away. More good weather is forecast for tomorrow, but there is the chance of rain for Sunday.

Jeremy McWilliams
It was just like old times. It’s good to be at a track where you need to maintain high corner speed. The Bridgestones seem to be good, though as for everyone the left hand side of the tyre gets very hot. At the moment I’m still trying to find a tyre that will go the distance. I’m making up time by having fun in the long turns, and chipping away. I’m trying to go in faster and faster, to see if I can get away with it. It’s risky, but a lot of fun. It’s frustrating to be about 20km/h slower down the straight, but it’s not such a drawback here because of our speed onto the straight out of the long last corners. I’m not going to get on pole for a fourth time – there’s no chance of that. But there’s still some more to come.

Chuck Aksland- Team Manager
We have no news yet on Nobu – he was complaining of pain in his neck, where he’s had some problems before. The doctors wanted an X-ray as a precaution, but it turns out that the equipment here at the track can’t give images of sufficiently high resolution. That cost him the session, which is frustrating, because I am sure he would also have gone well. Both riders are having fun: we know that because for the first ten minutes of the first session neither of them wanted to come in. Jeremy put us in the top ten, which is quite an achievement considering six months ago the bike could hardly go down a half-mile airstrip in Britain without blowing up. That’s a testament to everybody’s hard work, and to Jeremy’s skill.


More, from Camel Pramac Pons Honda:

Max Biaggi on the provisional front row in Phillip Island

Max Biaggi once again produced a strong performance on the first day of qualification for the Australian Grand Prix, the fifteenth and penultimate race of the MotoGP season taking place this weekend at the spectacular coastal circuit of Phillip Island. The Camel Pramac Pons rider grabbed a front row spot after a terrific battle with his competitors in a session where the lead constantly changed hands. Tomorrow he will be looking to improve his performance still furter by concentrating on finding the best settings for his bike. Meanhwhile, Tohru Ukawa, who lapped one second quicker here than his previous best at the circuit, is still hopeful of achieving his first podium finish of the season on Sunday at the same circuit where he finished third last season.

3rd Max Biaggi
“On the last lap when I had fitted a soft tyre, I was blocked by Gibernau on the second corner and I lost a lot of time. I think that I can go under 1:31 tomorrow and, although the forecast for Sunday is bad with a good chance of rain, I want to set up the bike for a dry race. This afternoon things went much better than in the morning and I hope that we can continue the progress tomorrow”.

10th Tohru Ukawa
“My bike was sliding a lot on the final corner, but I admit that the track surface has much more grip than last year. The temperature is mild and it is not cold, although rain is forecast for Sunday’s race. My time today was one second better than my time set here in last season’s race, but I think that we still have room for improvement. We must revise the engine mapping settings and we must also find the right tyre compound that will last for the whole race”.

Sito Pons:
“This is the first time we have raced at this circuit with Max and with the current configuration of the RC211V and we are concentrating our efforts on the various settings and on improving the response of the engine so that the power is transferred to the track more progressively. Max has a lot of pace and I think he will be fighting for the pole position tomorrow. Tohru likes this circuit and he feels comfortable riding here. We are working so that he can get the maximum performance out of his bike and repeat the podium finish he achieved last year”.



More, from a press release issued by Ducati:

Ducati Marlboro Men battle for provisional pole

Ducati Marlboro Team riders Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss were a close-run second- and third-fastest in this afternoon’s record-breaking opening qualifying session for the 2003 Australian GP. The Italian and Australian played a starring role in the hour-long outing, both of them topping the times in the final minutes. Conditions were unusually warm and calm for Phillip Island at this time of year, though rain has been forecast for later in the weekend.

“We are happy with that because both riders were able to run a good pace during the session as well as fight for provisional pole,” said Ducati Marlboro Team technical director Corrado Cecchinelli. “Everything is good here but still not perfect. Our base set-up here is a mix of what we’ve used at the most recent races and what we ran here in winter testing. We still need to improve traction to improve our lap times, so that’s the area we’re working on. Both guys ran a couple of qualifying tyres at the end of the session because we wanted to be on the front row today – we don’t trust the weather here!”

The Ducati Marlboro Team was delighted to welcome a distinguished guest to its pit this afternoon – Eric Bana, the bike-mad Australian actor who plays the lead role in the movie Hulk.
Capirossi denied pole by nine hundredths
Loris Capirossi demoted team-mate Troy Bayliss from provisional pole with three minutes remaining this afternoon, only for Valentino Rossi (Honda) to better the Italian’s best lap by 0.090 seconds as the session ended. Nevertheless the Ducati Marlboro Team man is confident that he has what it takes to compete for victory on Sunday.

“I’m satisfied so far,” said Capirossi whose best lap was 1.2 seconds inside last year’s pole position pace. “We had some good tests here last December and I can feel that the bike has improved since then. Of course, it’s always great to be on pole, and we should be able to go a little faster tomorrow, but what I’m more concerned about is my race pace which was pretty good today. During our first season with the Desmosedici we’ve found that the bike suits some tracks better than others, and it seems to like Phillip Island! It’s no coincidence that we’re up front here, we should be in the fight for victory on Sunday. My only hope is that it doesn’t rain.”

Bayliss in the hunt pole position

Ducati Marlboro Team rider Troy Bayliss was in the thick of the battle for provisional pole this afternoon, going to the top of the times with six minutes to go and ending up third fastest, just two tenths off pole. The Australian – racing at home for the first time in 18 months – is aiming for a podium finish on Sunday to bolster his fifth place in the World Championship which should help to secure him the title of MotoGP Rookie of 2003.

“I feel pretty good, I’m on the front row and that’s what it’s all about at this stage,” said Bayliss, who won both Phillip Island World Superbike rounds in April 2002, his last competitive outing on home tarmac. “I think we can make a bit of an improvement tomorrow but it won’t be a lot, today’s conditions were about as good as they get here at this time of year.

We’ve got a few little things to work on chassis-wise but we won’t be making any special changes for tomorrow. My main goal this weekend is to finish in front of Ukawa and Hayden to help me get fifth in the championship.”


More, from Fortuna Yamaha:

Australian Grand Prix kicks off at ‘The Island’
Fortuna Yamaha Team riders Carlos Checa and Marco Melandri produced quick and consistent performances today during the hour-long provisional qualifying session for this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix. Both factory Yamaha riders used today to find a neutral chassis geometry rather than pursuing an outright fastest lap, in preparation for Sunday’s main event. Despite a provisional second row qualifying result of seventh position, Checa is openly confident with the M1’s potential at the sweeping 4448m layout. Melandri recovered from an early tumble at MG Corner, which delayed this afternoon’s session by 10 minutes, then traction problems prevented the young Italian from improving beyond 14th on the time sheets.

After setting the ninth fastest time during this morning’s free practice, Checa focused his afternoon efforts on improving the front-end feedback on his machine through each of the high-speed Island sweepers. The 31-year-old then turned his attention to increasing drive off the turns, an essential element for a fast lap at the Phillip Island circuit. Checa went on to set the seventh fastest time of the day, with a lap time of 1:31.554.

“I feel much more comfortable here than I did last year,” said Checa, who celebrated his 31st birthday on Wednesday. “Our Michelin tyres are working exceptionally well and everyone has improved by about two seconds. I think the tyres are what’s making a big difference. We still need to improve in some areas and we will concentrate on fine-tuning the bike’s balance for tomorrow. If we can work tomorrow at the same pace we did today then I think we have a strong chance.”

In a less than ideal start to the opening qualifying session this afternoon, Marco Melandri brought proceedings to a temporary halt when he lost the rear end of his YZR-M1, exiting the tight right-hand MG Corner. The 21-year-old Italian walked away unhurt from the low-speed incident but his bike remained on the racing line, causing the red flag and session delay. Melandri returned to the pits and spent the rest of the session aboard his number two machine, before eventually finishing with a time of 1:32.627.

“It wasn’t a great start to the afternoon with that tumble,” said Melandri. “I lost the rear end but fortunately didn’t hurt myself. I’m experiencing exactly the same problems that I had in Sepang. We have tried different things but at the moment it’s not making any difference. The problem is a lack of grip both when accelerating and when braking. My crew are working very hard to solve this here, and hopefully tomorrow we’ll find something that makes a difference.”

Team Director Davide Brivio said, “Carlos has started the weekend quite well, and his hot lap time could have been even better but he was slowed down by traffic. His potential here seems good, and there’s even further room for improvement tomorrow. Anyway, it’s a good start. Marco still has to find a better set-up to solve this grip problem. He’s not yet fully comfortable on the bike. It’s just the first day so we’ll try to make changes that help him feel better tomorrow.”

Recently crowned 2003 MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi (Honda) set the benchmark during the early stages of qualifying, before the Ducati pair of Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss leapfrogged the Italian on the time sheets. The pair set times of 1:30.721 and 1:30.834 respectively. Then with just seconds of the session remaining, three-time MotoGP World Champion Rossi produced a time of 1:30.631 to retake provisional pole by a mere 0.090 seconds. Max Biaggi (Honda, 1:31.089) completed the front row.


More, from a press release issued by Harris WCM:

David de Gea: 21st 1:34.957
“It’s my first time at this track and my first time here on the four stroke. I was aiming for a faster lap time today but on my final lap I made a mistake going into the last corner and I lost some time. I am sure tomorrow I can do a 1.33, I’ll be trying for it anyway. I had this mornings crash fresh on my mind in the afternoon session but generally I am getting more confident on the bike every weekend. Tomorrow I will be more familiar with the circuit especially the blind corners and I’m feeling pretty good for the race.”

Chris Burns: 23rd 1:35.623
“I made a good improvement of about two seconds from this mornings practice and I’m getting to know the track a bit better with each lap. It’s my first time here to Phillip Island and to Australia and I find it a real technical track. The Harris- WCM engine seems to be running well and the chassis is working better each weekend. It would seem that we have solved the previous problems with the clutch, it’s now feels consistent.

We’ll have to wait and see about the weather on Sunday, but I won¹t be concerned if it rains.”

Peter Clifford (Team Manager)
“Good work from everybody today, the mechanics had a lot of work to put four bikes on the track following Malaysia and it’s a credit to them that they had four bikes running at the end of today.

Chris and David made excellent progress through today and I’m sure they feel capable of a similar step forward tomorrow.”


More, from a Pramac Honda Racing Information:

Tough day for Makoto Tamada – difficulty getting to grips with Phillip Island

Makoto Tamada had a very complicated first day of tests on the Australian circuit. The Pramac Honda Team’s Japanese rider spent most of today testing lots of different tyres for Sunday’s race and even trying out some materials specially designed for this particular circuit. Of the substantial number of tyres he tested, Makoto found three satisfactory solutions, but they did not give the result he was hoping for when it came to making his fast lap for the provisional pole.

Tomorrow’s work will focus on finding the right set-up for the bike using the tyres that were chosen today. Tamada made his best time today at the end of the first twenty minutes of the qualifying session when the tarmac temperature was 44 °C (111 °F) and was not able to improve on this in the rest of the session.

Makoto Tamada:20th – 1:33.163
“I tried out lots of tyres and though I’m pleased with the one we’ve chosen for the front, I’m not sure it’ll last out the whole race. I don’t feel too sure about the rear, as I didn’t have the grip I needed even when I wasn’t going flat out: the bike was slipping a lot. So we’re going to have to concentrate on finding the best rear tyre – I tried out some brand-new stuff today – and then we’ll have to get the settings on the bike right. Some tyres seemed satisfactory to me but I wasn’t able to achieve acceptable lap times, which means we’ve still got plenty of work to do.”


More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki:

Roberts and Hopkins miss soft-tyre chances

Phillip Island, Australia – Friday, October 17, 2003: Team Suzuki riders Kenny Roberts Jr. and John Hopkins were 15th and 17th fastest in today’s first qualifying session for Sunday’s Australian GP, losing positions but not confidence in the end-of-session scramble on soft-compound “qualifying” tyres. Circumstances meant that neither was able to take advantage of the one-lap opportunity offered by the soft and super-grippy rubber.

Roberts in particular had been well placed in the top ten, lying seventh mid-session. Then he dropped down the order as times tumbled on the one-lap-wonder tyres. This is important for grid position, but qualifying tyres are not relevant to race pace or chassis settings. Tomorrow’s second timed session will give the Suzuki riders another chance to move forward on the grid, as well as to refine race settings and tyre choice still further.

Hopkins blamed himself for missing his window of opportunity – running too cautiously on his special soft-rubber rear tyre. The Anglo-American rider missed last weekend’s Malaysian GP after a controversial one-race ban for an overtaking manoeuvre that went wrong at the Pacific GP at Motegi in Japan the weekend before. Back on the Suzuki GSV-R after being forced to sit out the intervening race, he was anxious to cast off a slur that he felt was deeply unfair.

The Australian GP is the third in a trio of flyaway races on consecutive weekends, and the 4.448km Phillip Island circuit imposes very different conditions on the long-haul racers.

After the sauna-like heat of Malaysia, conditions on the off-shore island south of the Victoria state capital Melbourne can be bitterly cold. Today’s first practice took place in benign warm sunshine, however, with the notorious sea breezes also absent. More good weather is forecast for tomorrow, but there is a possibility of rain on Sunday.

Australian comedian and Hollywood star Eric Bana was an enthusiastic visitor to the paddock today. Eric Bana, a dedicated motorcyclist, starring as “The Incredible Hulk” (Blackhawk Down), and is currently finishing “Troy” in which he co-stars with Brad Pitt.

Kenny Roberts Jr. – 15th Position, 1:32.643
Another day with the bike as it was in Malaysia and Japan. This track is going to create a few more problems for us with engine braking and the way our bike accelerates. Realistically it’s difficult to predict the race. They say it may rain on Sunday as well, so it should be an interesting mix. Today we were pretty fast on race tyres, for our potential pace. I never got a chance to put a lap in on qualifying tyres. I would say it should be easy to go another seven tenths faster on that tyre, but that has no bearing on the outcome on the race, so I’m not really concerned about that at the moment.

John Hopkins – 17th Position, 1:32.767
Today was basically alright. I’ve been happier, but the bike is similar to what we tested with here before the season, and I’m a step faster now, which is positive. Once you get to the limit with this bike, that’s the limit, and if you push harder you’re liable to make a mistake and put the thing on its head. I was trying to get consistent laps, and I was pretty comfortable in the 33s. When I put on a softer tyre, I didn’t give it as much as I could have, which cost me time. But that’s what tomorrow is for.

Garry taylor – Team Manager
Both riders have come here with a positive attitude, and this is a great track, which will bring out the best in them. It’s a circuit that repays riding skill and gives a lot of slipstreaming opportunities. If they can move up the grid as we expect tomorrow then get a good start, then the rest is up to them.


More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki Racing Team:

FUCHS KAWASAKI RIDERS IMPRESS AT THE ISLAND

Fuchs Kawasaki’s Garry McCoy produced a trademark tyre-smoking qualifying display to finish today’s opening qualifying session for Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix eighth fastest; his best effort of the season.

And supporting McCoy’s second row spot was superb effort by Fuchs Kawasaki team-mate Andrew Pitt, who overcame mechanical delays to also secure his best provisional qualifying position of the season with the 12th fastest time.

Pitt, who has just completed his rookie 12 months with the Kawasaki MotoGP team, sliced 1.3s off his previous best qualifying time at Phillip Island in 2002. McCoy went 0.3s faster than his 2002 time, which was good enough for second place on the front row last year.

Both riders are expecting improved performances tomorrow with the support of Kawasaki’s tyre partner Dunlop, who have produced a range of Phillip Island friendly race and qualifying tyres for the Ninja ZX-RR.

After being fourth fastest in the morning free practice McCoy settled on his preferred set-up and ran both his ZX-RR machines in identical trim in qualifying. McCoy is yet to settle on a race tyre option and will work further on this tomorrow.

Meanwhile Pitt lost time in both practice and qualifying with engine problems. In the afternoon the delay meant Pitt had time for just one run on a soft qualifying tyre and he is eager to redress the balance with a trouble free run tomorrow.

Qualifying was conducted in near perfect conditions, with clear blue skies and only a light breeze at the Phillip Island circuit.

Garry McCoy – 8th – 1:32.003
“I’m not sure it’s a good idea to be going fast here; everyone is going to think that because I’m at my home race I’m having a go – but it’s not that at all, no one believes me when I say I try just as hard no matter where the race is. Right at the end of that session I messed around a bit too much, I needed to take it easy on the out lap to make sure the qualifying tyre lasted for one fast lap, but the chequered flag just caught me out. On my fast lap the rear qualifier was pretty much burnt up with a couple of corners to go.”

Andrew Pitt – 12th – 1:32.562
“I’m really happy; it’s a good feeling to be on the first page of the timing screen. I’ve never found the conditions here that easy, but today was a great day to be riding at Phillip Island. Tomorrow I need to get more than one run in on the qualifying tyres, so hopefully everything will run smoothly. The bike that stopped this afternoon was my number one choice and by the time the set-up was switched to my spare there wasn’t a lot of time left and I only did one qualifying run. I ran some good race tyre options today, so overall the Dunlops are looking good here; I just need to get two bikes running the same.”

Harald Eckl – Team Manager
“This is our best Friday result of the season and it’s what we need to show the potential of our team. The bikes are the same as they have been for the past three races, but here at Phillip island the package with our Dunlops, the riders and the set-up is working very well. Despite losing time with some engine trouble Andrew reduced his time from last year and this was an impressive effort. It is a pity that Garry missed his final lap just by a fraction of second. I sense Garry wants the front row again and this is not impossible.”


More, from a press release issued by MS Aprilia:

A POSITIVE START

Sunny day for the first qualifying session at Phillip Island 15th round of the season that could be essential for the assignment of the 250 world title. In this mornings free session Manuel Poggiali was the 6th fastest repeating his performance in the qualifying practices as well even if the San Marino rider improved hi lap time of half second.

Manuel Poggiali: “The first impression is positive and we are working in the right way. I found a big difference in Sepang between the 125 and 250 but here the two classes are almost the same even if the speed is different. So I found the trajectories easily and but we still need to improve. In the last part of the session I did not use the soft tyres in the proper way because of the traffic. that’s why I qualified only 6th today”


More, from a press release issued by Fortuna Honda:

Rolfo satisfied with initial Phillip Island session

Phillip Island – Australia, October 17, 2003. Fortuna Honda rider Roberto Rolfo is satisfied with the opening qualifying session at the superb Phillip Island circuit, on the Pacific Ocean in spite of finishing in seventh place. However he feels the team still have work ahead of then in final qualifying tomorrow.

Events have developed for the Altadis rider without experiencing real problems. The engine performance is good but there is work to do on the chassis and suspension to get the best out of the Fortuna Honda.

“In general the bike is working well, our principle task has been concentrated on finding good settings that will allow me to feel more comfortable on the machine. The engine is running well all our efforts re directed towards chassis and suspension work.” Explained Rolfo following a meeting with the team technicians.

“There are parts of the circuit, for instance the second partial time, where I didn’t feel very comfortable on the bike and I have to improve. Engine acceleration is good and the top speed is not so bad, that’s why it’s so important for me to find a good compromise between chassis and suspension settings on the second day of practice and qualifying. If nothing strange happens I have no doubt that I will be fighting for a podium position in the
race to maintain my options for the title.” Affirmed the Fortuna Honda rider.


More, from a press release issued by KTM:

Kallio in Top Ten for KTM Red Bull Finish

Finnish rider Mika Kallio, fresh from his second place Malaysian GP result, has qualified eighth on the provisional grid for the KTM Red Bull Team in first qualifying for Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix. Kallio’s place on the second row came after he failed to better his morning free practice time in the afternoon qualifying session. Team mate Roberto Locatelli set the 23rd fastest time

After near perfect conditions in the morning a stronger breeze arrived at the Oceanside circuit for afternoon qualifying. The wind affected the smaller and lighter 125 machines and tomorrow the KTM bikes will run modified fairings to counter the impact of the wind. Both riders used today’s sessions to familiarise themselves with the awesomely fast 4.4 km circuit and work on race set-up. They are still to find the optimum rear end set-up but both are confident of going faster in tomorrow’s final qualifying.

# 36 Mika Kallio
8th /1:38.492

I’m not concerned to be eighth and I feel confident I can be on the front pace tomorrow. In the morning things were close to perfect and I was second but in the afternoon the stronger wide was a problem; in some places it was under the bike and lifting it causing a slight chatter so tomorrow I will run fairings with holes drilled in them for the wind.

#10 Roberto Locatelli
23rd /1:39.792

I don’t feel so bad even though I’m twenty third, as I still have to find the right balance for this track. The problem is the rear suspension settings so I did a conservative and safe qualifying today and if we get the set-up sorted out I know I can be faster tomorrow.

Harald Bart