From a press release issued by Dorna Sports:

Tamada puts title feud in the shadow at Sepang

Makoto Tamada took provisional pole position for the Marlboro Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang today to overshadow an intense battle for psychological supremacy between feuding title rivals Valentino Rossi and Sete Gibernau. Light rain at the start of the first official qualifying practice saw several riders run into the gravel on the first lap but provided an entertaining battle for provisional pole as their subsequently cautious approach intensified towards the end of the session and culminated in a record-breaking lap of 2’02.394 from Tamada.

“This is a really good start for us because we had some problems with Bridgestone here in winter testing but they have shown how far they have come,” commented Tamada, who has won two races already this season. “I had a difficult time in Qatar last weekend but I have set a good lap time today and I hope to be at the top for the rest of the sessions. The most important thing is the set-up and tyres for Sunday’s race so we will be working on that tomorrow.”

Whilst Michelin-shod riders Gibernau and Rossi joined Tamada on the provisional front row, the Japanese was one of several Bridgestone riders to make swift progress this afternoon. John Hopkins qualified fourth fastest on the Suzuki whilst Kawasaki pair Alex Hofmann and Shinya Nakano made up the provisional second row in fifth and sixth respectively – all three riders using the Japanese rubber.

Ducati riders Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss continued their steady progress with provisional third row starts, qualifying either side of Honda’s Max Biaggi in seventh and ninth.

Carlos Checa was the next Yamaha behind Rossi, over one and a half seconds slower than his colleague, whilst Nicky Hayden, who left this circuit with the fastest time in a key preseason test at the start of the year, struggled to eleventh on the Honda. Ducati’s Neil Hodgson briefly led the session before slipping to twelfth place ahead of former World Superbike rival Colin Edwards, riding the Honda.

Sebastián Porto picked up where he left off in the 250cc class, following on from a perfect weekend in Qatar where he dominated every practice session and won the race. Today Porto again proved too hot for the rest of the quarter-litre field to handle, including series leader Dani Pedrosa, who was left 0.704 seconds adrift of the Argentinean’s provisional pole time. Pedrosa gets his first chance of winning the World Championship on Sunday but must beat Porto by at least eight points in order to secure the crown.

The title-chasing pair are joined on the provisional front row by Alex de Angelis, who was impressive throughout the session and led the time sheets on several occasions, and Toni Elías, the winner and pole-setter from the race last year. Randy de Puniet, who still has a mathematical chance of winning the title, provisionally qualified on the second row in sixth place.

Andrea Dovizioso took his first step towards the podium finish he needs to be proclaimed World Champion with provisional pole position for the 125cc race The Italian youngster was in impressive form as he swept to a time of 2’13.685 in cloudy and humid conditions, holding off the challenge of Hector Barberá by 0.218 seconds. Barberá saw a potential pole lap ruined just moments from the end of the session, saving a high-side with two corners to go but wrecking his lap time. The Spaniard is joined on the provisional front row by Mika Kallio and Pablo Nieto. Jorge Lorenzo was a full second adrift of Dovizioso’s pole time as he took the front slot on the provisional second row in fifth place ahead of Roberto Locatelli, Casey Stoner and Marco Simoncelli.



More, from a press release issued by Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha:

Malaysian Grand Prix
Sepang, Malaysia
Friday 8th October 2004

ROSSI ANDS CHECA ON PROVISIONAL FIRST AND FOURTH ROWS IN SEPANG

Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi rode his Yamaha YZR-M1 to third place in today’s provisional qualifying order at Sepang. His best lap of 2’02.700s led the order until he was knocked off top spot in the final minutes by eventual fastest man Makoto Tamada (Honda) and second place rider Sete Gibernau (Honda). Rossi’s team-mate Carlos Checa finished tenth in the order, after a tough early sector of the afternoon session.

Just as most of the top competitors at Sepang made ready to start their first lap, a sudden burst of tropical rain made the track treacherous in places, largely dry in others. This held back the lap times until the track started to dry out, when the names at the top of the times list changed with frequency. Rossi led twice, his last flirtation with provisional pole looking like it would withstand any further attacks, until the last two minutes of the session.

Checa had the misfortune to run off and crash with few minutes of the session completed, running back to pit lane to use his spare machine. He returned to the fight to secure tenth fastest time, after struggling to find a good machine balance on his less favoured bike.

One final hour of qualifying remains, to take place on Saturday 9th October, with the chance of rain always present in Malaysia.

VALENTINO ROSSI (3rd, 2’02.700s)

“It was finally quite a good day. We had some problems this morning and I couldn’t get the best from the bike. We have changed a lot of things since we tested here in February, the set-up is quite different now. But the work we did this afternoon went well. I made a good lap. I’m third, which is quite a good position and I hope to improve even more tomorrow morning. I only managed to use one qualifying tyre, I hope to have the possibility to use more tomorrow. I feel motivated and concentrated and we will continue the set-up work tomorrow morning.”

CARLOS CHECA (10th, 2’04.245s)

“I did not see that there was a wet area on the track and that’s why I fell so early in the session. It was a slow one but I just lost the front wheel immediately. I had a dark visor on, and that did not help. There were no flags, and that was a mistake from the marshals. If some part of the track is wet, and another dry, we should have information. I went out on my second bike but I did not have the correct rhythm and timing, especially under braking and when leaned over. The balance was not right. So we have to try to do better tomorrow.”

DAVIDE BRIVIO, TEAM DIRECTOR

“This session started in a strange situation, as it had begun to rain but only in two sections of the track, the last corner and turn seven. They were fully wet. As it dried out the riders had to pay a lot of attention. Only in the last 10 minutes was it possible for the riders to try a real hot lap. Unfortunately, Carlos had a crash early in the session. Valentino is provisionally third, on the front row. The weather can be critical in the next two days, it’s very typical to have a shower in the afternoon, and that will make things complicated. So we will try to be ready for all weather conditions.”

PROVISIONAL FRONT ROW

1. Makoto Tamada (JPN) Camel Honda 2’02.394
2. Sete Gibernau (SPA) Telefonica Movistar Honda 2’02.629
3. VALENTINO ROSSI (ITA) Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha 2’02.700

PROVISIONAL SECOND ROW

4. John Hopkins (USA) Team Suzuki MotoGP 2’03.110
5. Alex Hofmann (GER) Kawasaki Racing Team 2’03.321
6. Shinya Nakano (JPN) Kawasaki Racing Team 2’03.582



More, from a press release issued by Fuchs Kawasaki:

MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2004
MARLBORO MALAYSIAN MOTORCYCLE GRAND PRIX – SEPANG
8TH OCTOBER 2004 – QUALIFYING PRACTICE 1

HOFMANN QUALIFIES FIFTH ON OPENING DAY AT SEPANG

Fuchs Kawasaki riders, Alex Hofmann and Shinya Nakano, delivered the best team qualifying performance of the season so far in today’s opening session for the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang.

Hofmann was first to stake his claim for a good grid position, setting the fastest time on race tyres early on in the session, in conditions made treacherous by the onset of rain shortly before qualifying got underway.

As the track dried out, the Fuchs Kawasaki rider continued to match the pace of the front runners, snatching pole again with just ten minutes of the session left to run.

A flurry of fast laps by the usual suspects eventually demoted the 24-year-old German rider from the top ten in the final minutes, only for him to bounce back to claim a second row position on the provisional grid with the fifth fastest time on his final flying lap.

Qualifying specialist Nakano was also in fine form, joining Hofmann at the top of timing screen early, before surging into the top three with 25 minutes remaining.

Having slipped to ninth place Nakano’s final fast lap secured sixth place with two minutes remaining.

Once the early rain at turn 15 cleared the track dried quickly, although conditions were cooler than the tropical heat wave that is usual at Sepang.

Both the Ninja ZX-RR machines of Hofmann and Nakano ran faultlessly throughout the day, reflecting the impressive response by the Kawasaki factory in Japan to the engine problems at last week’s Qatar Grand Prix.

Including Hofmann and Nakano, there are four Bridgestone riders in the top six times, as Kawasaki’s tyre partner continues to demonstrate its increasing competitiveness in MotoGP.

Alex Hofmann: 5th (2’03.321)
“When I was on pole late in the session I was praying for rain, and that no one could go faster. But fifth is great and I just felt comfortable with the ZX-RR set-up all day. I felt totally in control no matter what I did with the bike and the times were coming easy; it is a lot of fun riding when it’s like this. From Qatar the team have been able to improve the set-up to suit my style and this is a track that I really enjoy. I stayed on slicks throughout the session, despite the rain. I used a soft qualifier early to get a feel of the track and things just got better from there.”

Shinya Nakano: 6th (2’03.582)
“This is a good start to the weekend for the Kawasaki team, who have worked hard to fix the engine problems we had in Qatar. The rain made track conditions strange today, but I was able to do consistent times throughout the session and our race tyre choice is looking positive. I tried a different rear shock setting in the afternoon, but I’m still looking for a better set-up, as it is important to have rear-end control at this track. If it’s dry tomorrow I’m sure the other riders will be coming fast, but I’m ready.”

Harald Eckl: Team Manager
“An excellent day. Alex showed great form, he was always in the front group, and he was rewarded for his aggression and consistency; I hope he continues with this form. Again Shinya showed the high level of qualifying performance we have come to expect from him. Clearly Bridgestone have an excellent tyre for this circuit and in dry conditions it is going to be tough for the opposition tyres to beat them. And my thanks must go to the Kawasaki engineers, who have done a lot of work this week and made a quick response to the piston problems that out motors suffered in Qatar.”

QUALIFYING PRACTICE 1 – FINAL TIMES
1. Makoto Tamada (JPN) Camel Honda Team 2’02.394; 2. Sete Gibernau (SPA) Telefonica Movistar Honda +0.235; 3. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha +0.306; 4. John Hopkins (USA) Suzuki Grand Prix Team +0.716; 5. Alex Hofmann (GER) Kawasaki Racing Team +0.927; 6. Shinya Nakano (JPN) Kawasaki Racing Team +1.188; 7. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Ducati Marlboro Team +1.422; 8. Max Biaggi (ITA) Camel Honda Team +1.618; 9. Troy Bayliss (AUS) Ducati Marlboro Team +1.685; 10. Carlos Checa (SPA) Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha +1.851



More, from a press release issued by Camel Honda:

Malaysian GP – Round 14 – MotoGP
Sepang – Friday 8th October 2004

Provisional pole for Makoto Tamada in Sepang
Max Biaggi eighth fastest

Already quick in the morning free practice session, Makoto Tamada continued his great run of form and showed his liking for the Sepang track in the afternoon qualifying hour, setting the provisional pole position in a time of 2’02.394. Max Biaggi is provisionally on the third row, still searching for an ideal set-up on this Malaysian circuit. For the four-times World Champion, tomorrow’s practices will be crucial to get the most out of his RC211V before Sunday’s race.

Sito Pons – Camel Honda (Team Principal)
“We’ve got one bike in first place and Makoto really is going quick. He has great potential and his experience on this track is showing in his competitiveness. With Max, we still need to work more on developing the set-up of his bike so he can be just as competitive and I’m sure that we will manage to be in shape to fight for the top positions. So I’m confident that the yellow RC211V Camel Honda bikes will be ready to do battle for the front row tomorrow.”

Max Biaggi – Camel Honda (Michelin tyres) – 8th – 2’04.012
“I’m a bit disappointed, I hoped for a better result. This isn’t a new track, we’ve been racing here for five years now and between the January and February tests we did six whole days of work where I was always the quickest in the race simulations and second quickest overall (2’02.108, behind Hayden’s 2’02.041, unofficial times). Furthermore I always have a good feeling at this track, I like racing here. Instead of all this we were unable to get close to those times. The problems are the same, chattering in braking and sharp power delivery in acceleration. Nevertheless we have another day to show that this bike is better and we won’t stop trying until it is. In the tests here I enjoyed myself while riding and I want to get back to that.”

Giulio Bernardelle – Camel Honda – (Makoto Tamada’s Technical Director)
“After Qatar we worked with the Bridgestone technicians to analyse the data we collected , from which we deduced that the reduced performance last week was due to the asphalt’s characteristics; in Qatar it was very strange. Here in Sepang, in very similar weather conditions, but on a track we have now known for two seasons, we have returned to the kind of performance where Makoto is able to express himself, like we have seen in this second half of the season. Moreover, having seen the shape we are in already on the first day of practice there’s still time to get the most out of all the finer details.”

Makoto Tamada – Camel Honda (Bridgestone Tyres)- 1st – 2’02.394
“I’ve tested a lot on this track, I know it really well, and I have a lot of data, something I can’t say about a lot of the other tracks in the championship. We started with a consolidated base set-up and we only made some small changes. The settings have changed slightly since the winter tests, but thanks to this base we could immediately go quick, even in the morning free practice. The tyres have also made a remarkable leap forward since then, they have improved a lot and you can see that. The heat doesn’t bother me either, we suffer less here than in Qatar, here it’s practically chilly…”




More, from a press release issued by Proton Team KR:

PROTON KR PAIR OVERCOME PHYSICAL PROBLEMS AT SEPANG

Round 14, Malaysian GP, Sepang First Qualifying: Friday, October 8, 2004

Nobuatsu Aoki: 21st, 2:08.563
James Haydon: 22nd, 2:09.494

Proton Team KR riders Nobuatsu Aoki and James Haydon both qualified for Sunday’s Malaysian GP – home race for the team’s long-standing sponsors – in spite of each suffering from maladies that combined with the heat to make it a difficult afternoon’s work.

Aoki was struck by a fever on Wednesday, and is suffering hot and cold flushes and headaches. In addition, his machine ran into an electronic glitch on his fast lap on qualifying tyres, that meant he had to stop out on the 5.548km Sepang circuit.

Haydon is recovering from a bout of food poisoning that struck the day after last weekend’s Qatar GP, where the British Superbike rider made his MotoGP debut on the Proton KR V5, scoring points for a fighting 12th place. The British rider was substituting for injured team regular Kurtis Roberts, who had been expected to return for this weekend’s race. Haydon flew back to Britain, suffering from severe nausea, only to have to turn round and fly east once again when Roberts was not yet fit enough to race.

The American rider, second son of team principal Kenny Roberts, suffered elbow and wrist injuries at the Czech Republic GP in Qatar, requiring surgery that has delayed his return.

The aim of both riders is to continue a run of four races when the England-built V5 has scored World Championship points. Today’s qualifying positions put them in the frame, and both riders expect to improve tomorrow. Aoki has yet to set a time on qualifying tyres. Haydon is fast gaining experience on “the fastest bike I have ever ridden”, and also learning a circuit that he rode for the first time today.

Today’s first morning practice took place in sultry and humid conditions, but the timed afternoon session was hit by a tropical shower that left the final corner soaked as the hour began. More rain threatened but did not fall, and the track was fully dry by the end of the session.

Sunday’s race is the 14th of 16 World Championship rounds, and the middle of a trio of “flyaway” GPs on consecutive weekends: Qatar last Saturday, Malaysia on Sunday, and the Australian GP next Sunday. There is one more day of practice before Sunday’s race.

NOBUATSU AOKI
I’ve had a fever since Wednesday, but Dean Miller (team physiotherapist) gave me some pills that helped. This morning we were struggling to find grip, and I had no feel at all, either front or back. My mechanics did good work with the suspension, and I got the feeling back in the afternoon, though we still have a long way to go with grip. But I’m sure it will be possible to improve, by half-a-second or more. When I fitted qualifying tyres I had a problem – I think with the ignition. The bike was surging, and I didn’t finish the lap.

JAMES HAYDON
It’s my first time here, so it’s quite difficult. I’ve been going at it steadily, and also improving my feel for the bike, with some changes in the right direction. The afternoon shower was the last thing I needed, and because this track is quite worn some parts look damp even when they’re dry, which was also hard for me. The front end and I are still talking a different language, and I’m still not sure how hard I can push, and if I have a moment whether I could get away with it. My number one bike developed a problem, so I had to switch to my spare for my run on qualifying tyres. I made three mistakes and ran wide, but it was still my best lap of the day. I want to get the front feeling so I can push harder, but I think today it was the right thing to do to be careful. I hope it’s dry tomorrow, and the track all the same colour. I think I’ll be able to find quite a lot of time.



More, from a press release issued by Telefonica Movistar Honda:

SETE REMAINS FIRM

MALAYSIAN GP- 1ST OFFICIAL MOTOGP QUALIFYING PRACTICE

Sete Gibernau qualified second fastest today, just two tenths off the provisional pole time set by Makoto Tamada, in the first official qualifying practice for the Malysian Grand Prix, whilst Colin Edwards hopes to close in on the top times tomorrow. The Spanish Telefónica MoviStar rider concentrated on finding the best possible set-up for his bike ahead of Sunday’s race, which promises to be just as hard as last week in Qatar, and made the most of his qualifying tyres in the final stages of the session. Colin Edwards tried different configurations as he searched for better traction, but will have to continue working to find a better compromise tomorrow.

SETE GIBERNAU (2nd, 2’02″394): “We have started the Grand Prix well. A good weekend starts with a good first day and that’s what we had today. I don’t want to get too confident but we have got off on the correct foot here. We still have a lot of work to do but we have a good base to pr! ogress from and prepare the race as best we can. Of course it will be tough, we were suffocated in Qatar and we won’t get time to catch our breath here either. In any case we will have to get used to it because it is the same for everybody.”

COLIN EDWARDS (13th, 2’05″060): “We made a few changes to the bike today and had some tyre tests to try and get some traction going. We need to work hard with the setting tomorrow”.

FAUSTO GRESINI (team manager): “At the start of the session a few raindrops fell on the circuit and Sete ran off track along with a lot of other riders, not realising that the surface was wet. After that he came into the box and worked calmly on the setting of the bike and then on getting the most out of the qualification tyres. Colin, on the other hand, didn’t manage that – in fact the morning session had gone much better. I think the times will come down further tomorrow because there will be more grip on the track.”

LAP TIMES
1. Makoto Tamada (Jap/Honda) 2’02″394
2. Sete Gibernau (Esp/Honda) + 0″235
3. Valentino Rossi (Ita/Yamaha) + 0″306
….
13. Colin Edwards (USA/Honda) + 2″666



More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

Marlboro Malaysian Grand Prix, Sepang
First Qualifying
Friday October 8 2004


DUCATI MARLBORO MEN ON THIRD ROW

Ducati Marlboro Team riders Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss straddle the third row of the provisional grid following this afternoon’s steaming-hot opening qualifying session for Sunday’s Marlboro Malaysian Grand Prix. The pair ended up seventh and ninth quickest after both figured up front during the latter stages of the outing. A brief rain shower at the start of the session soaked Sepang’s final hairpin, so it wasn’t until after halfway through the hour that anyone was able to complete a fully dry lap of the 5.548km circuit. Conditions here are cooler than at last weekend’s Malaysian Qatar GP but with ambient temperature at 34 degrees C and humidity at a 49 per cent it’s just as tough for the riders.

“That was quite an unusual session, with the track damp at just one corner for much of the hour,” said Ducati Marlboro Team director Livio Suppo. “That made it impossible for anyone to do good lap times for much of the hour. But both guys rode well today and the bike is getting better and better, so we hope for two dry sessions tomorrow so we can continue the good work.”

CAPIROSSI FOCUSES ON FRONT END
Loris Capirossi ran as high as second quickest at one stage of the session, eventually slipping to seventh to lead the third row. The Ducati Marlboro Team man is focusing on improving front-end set-up for Sunday’s race.

“The bike has definitely improved since we came here testing before the start of the season,” said Capirossi. “But I’m not completely happy because we still need to improve the feeling I’m getting from the front end. You need a really good front end here because there are lot of long corners here. We did make the bike better following this morning’s session, but we only had 20 minutes of fully dry track time this afternoon. If we can keep improving the front end tomorrow I think we should be okay for the race.”

BAYLISS IMPROVES REAR END
Troy Bayliss rode a strong session this afternoon, putting his Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici on provisional pole with just over 12 minutes to go, then dropping to ninth after he was unable to get out for his final run with a second qualifying tyre. “That was a good session, except I was brought in too late for my second qualifying tyre,” explained Bayliss. “The rain at the final turn made it difficult to get a rhythm through much of the session, so the final three minutes were vital but I wasn’t out there. We made a small improvement to the rear end this morning – just a few clicks to the suspension – so I reckon I could have done a little bit better lap if I had got out again. The bike’s not bad but we still need more – hopefully it’ll be dry tomorrow.”


More, from a press release issued by d’Antin Ducati:

HODGSON AND XAUS OVERCOME FIRST DAY DIFFICULTIES

The d´Antin MotoGP riders today completed the first day of practice for the Malaysian Grand Prix, which became a difficult task once spots of rain began to fall during the first few minutes of the official qualifying session

It was a disconcerting situation because the water was only really noticeable in the final corner, one of those to encounter the problem first was Neil Hodgson, but he carried on after the incident to finish twelfth. His teammate Rubén Xaus was equally as competitive, finishing eighteenth, and both are confident that tomorrow they will both be able to improve their Ducati’s position before Sunday’s race.

NEIL HODGSON: “The bike has really changed a lot since we were here in February because for starters we were using different size rims on the front back then and the set-up we were using was also completely different. The qualifying session was a complicated affair, although obviously it was the same for everyone. The circuit was dry, but the final bend was completely soaked, so it was a tough situation and I felt we had to get as much out of the qualifying tyre as soon as possible because it looked as though the heavens would open at any moment. On one hand I’m happy with my position, it’s not too bad to start off with, but on the other hand I don’t feel comfortable on the bike although I’m constantly trying to improve and go quicker, so that’s what I will try to do tomorrow; improve.”

RUBEN XAUS: “We’ve have been testing lots of things since the morning session, but it began to rain in the afternoon and the situation got a little complicated, although it did dry gradually. It was a little tight for time when I came in to change tyres at the end of the session and I couldn’t make the most of the soft rubber then, but we shouldn’t worry too much because looking at my times I would have been in about thirteenth or fourteenth place, which isn’t a bad spot on my return to this track. It’s still Friday and there’s time left to continue working hard. If we can do that today we can certainly do it tomorrow and I’m confident I can improve my position tomorrow. The bike has changed a lot since we came here for tests in February and I have also changed my riding style, so this is an opportunity to try and improve our results here.”


More, from a press release issued by MS Aprilia:


Jeremy 15th as McCoy returns to MotoGP

MS Aprilia Racing’s Jeremy McWiliams ended first qualifying for the Malaysian GP with the 15th fastest time on a hot and humid day in the Far East.

The British rider clocked a best of 2.05.127s at the 5.548km Sepang circuit, where air temperatures nudged 35 degrees with 50 per cent, humidity. The session got underway in strange circumstances. A rain shower fell on Sepang, but only at the final corner. McWilliams was one of several riders caught out by the sudden change in conditions when he ran off the track. After claiming a spot on the provisional fifth row, McWilliams said: “We found a good set-up in Qatar that we started with here. We thought we were at the limit with that set-up, but we actually moved away from it and made the bike even better, so at least we are somewhere close on the first day. That has been when we’ve struggled in the past. We went for harder springs on the front and rear and also made the bike shorter. We tested here in the winter, but the only thing I’ve used today from then was the gearbox. Our bike has changed so much through the season in terms of getting the electronics set-up. The rain was bizarre just being at the last corner. You can’t see where it goes from wet to dry at this track, so one second I was at full throttle on a slick and the next the track is soaking wet.”

Joining McWilliams for the first time was Australian Garry McCoy, who began his three-race deal with the Noale factory by setting the 20th fastest time. McCoy set a best of 2.08.553s on a day that proved to be a steep learning curve. “The bike is quite a bit different to what I’ve been used to. There’s so much to learn and I didn’t want to push that hard and come unstuck. Today was all about getting to know the team and the bike and not doing anything stupid. The bike feels pretty rigid so you have got to be really smooth, “said McCoy, who as well as trying to get to grips with the Cube, found the learning process increased as today was his first appearance on Michelin tyres since 2001.

This afternoon he felt more comfortable on the bike after the team changed both handlebar and footpeg positions and he added: “I wasn’t too comfortable this morning but the changes made a big difference. I didn’t really make many changes while I was trying to adapt to the bike, but we’ll definitely work on refining the suspension settings for me overnight.”

McCoy’s had to contend with another strange scenario on his Aprilia debut. He was forced to ride with leathers borrowed off McWilliams after a new batch of Alpinestars got lost in transit from Italy. McCoy said: “I thought Jeremy was the same size as me with slightly bigger arms. But when I put his leathers on it was like a set of overalls! It certainly didn’t make my first day any easier, “said McCoy, a three-times premier class GP winner.


More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki:


Hopkins just off front row in Malaysia

Sepang, Malaysia- Friday, October 8, 2004: Team Suzuki MotoGP rider John Hopkins was fourth-fastest in today’s first timed qualifying session for Sunday’s Malaysian GP, finishing less than half a second off the provisional front row of the grid after challenging strongly in both half-wet and fully dry conditions.

Temporary team-mate Yukio Kagayama, substituting again for injured 2000 World Champion Kenny Roberts Jr., placed 17th, as he gains familiarity with the latest version of the Suzuki GSV-R MotoGP machine and the Bridgestone tyres. Kagayama, a star of the British Superbike championship, rode the combination for the first time last weekend, at the Qatar GP.

Hopkins is still recovering from injuries sustained in the same crash that eliminated Roberts, at the Japanese GP at Motegi three weeks ago. The Suzuki pair were two of five innocent victims of an out-of-control Loris Capirossi in a multiple first-corner pile-up. Roberts suffered a dislocated left elbow among other injuries. Hopkins sustained broken ribs and a gashed buttock, but was able to ride last weekend and this, in spite of the obvious pain.

Today’s morning free training was run in dry and typically humid conditions at the 5.548km circuit close to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, south of the Malaysian capital. The afternoon timed session was hit by a shower of rain that left the final hairpin bend drenched. It dried as the session wore on, and the first seven riders set times inside the circuit lap record.

The Malaysian GP is the 14th of 16 rounds, in the middle of three successive weekends of far-flung racing – Qatar, Malaysia and Australia. There is one more day of practice, including an hour of timed qualifying, before Sunday’s race. With tropical rain-storms an ever-present threat, however, it is possible that today’s qualifying times will