From a press release issued by John Hopkins’ publicist:
Hopkins hopes to race in French Grand Prix after suffering injury
LE MANS, France – Suzuki Grand Prix rider John Hopkins qualified on the third row for Sunday’s French Motorcycle Grand Prix in Le Mans. He turned in the qualifying run in Friday’s dry session, but crashed twice Saturday on a wet circuit and injured his right shoulder. X-rays came up negative, but Hopkins is extremely sore after the two falls. He hopes to race Sunday, but is unsure at this point.
Hopkins rode the factory Suzuki GSV-R to a time of one minute, 36.673 seconds on the famous 4.2 kilometer Le Mans circuit on Friday, which put him 11th on the grid. Saturday’s session was wet and Hopkins suffered a crash in the morning session and then again in afternoon qualifying. He hurt his shoulder in the first crash and aggravated the injury further in the afternoon crash.
“It’s been a difficult weekend. Friday we had some mechanical problems in the morning practice and again later in qualifying,” Hopkins said. “I was stranded out on the course at one point and had to run back to the paddock to get my B-bike. That’s the bike I turned my qualifying run on.”
Hopkins was the leading qualifier among the four American GP riders.
Hopkins was unavailable for comment after his Saturday accidents. He did tell his manager Doug Gonda that initially he was hoping for a rain race, but after experiencing how poor the traction was on the wet Le Mans circuit he’d lost all enthusiasm for racing there in the rain. Hopkins was just one of many riders to crash on the slick racing surface.
Last year Hopkins finished 11th in the French Grand Prix after qualifying 19th.
Hopkins said he was going try, if at all possible, to make the starting grid for Sunday’s race.
More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service:
SUZUKI MEN FIND PROBLEMS IN FRANCE
Le Mans, France
Saturday, May 24, 2003:
Team Suzuki riders John Hopkins and Kenny Roberts Junior will start tomorrow’s French GP from the third and fifth rows of the grid, after persistent rain at the Bugatti circuit at Le Mans meant that yesterday’s dry-weather first-session lap times remained unbeaten on the slippery track.
Roberts was 14th fastest in the final wet timed session – an improvement in his position. But Hopkins ran into misfortune as he found the limits of grip on the streaming Le Mans tarmac. The Californian, who turned 20 two days ago, fell in the morning, injuring his right shoulder. Then he fell again in the afternoon, exacerbating the injury.
Directly after the session he went for X-rays, to check for possible fractures.
“Hopper” blamed a lack of grip for his crashes, while team-mate Roberts also complained of a shortage of traction from the all-new 2003 Suzuki GSV-R GP machine. This is one of the areas that the team and factory engineers are tackling, in the fast-forward development programme of the all-new machine, as they work flat out to unleash the obvious potential of the technically adventurous but still very new 990c V4 four-stroke prototype racer.
A full complement of factory racing staff at Le Mans included the engine designer Kunio Arase, showing the level of the Suzuki factory’s commitment to maximising the performance of the new bike as soon as possible, so that it can match the success already achieved this year in other branches of racing. On the day after tomorrow’s race, the fourth of 16 rounds in the World Championship, Suzuki have scheduled yet more tests to follow up three days in Spain last week. French racing legend Jean Michel Bayle will again ride the machine, to add another dimension to the information and data for the engineers to weigh up.
Today’s result was doubly frustrating, since Roberts is noted for his wet-weather prowess. Instead of his usual top position, however, he was not even in the top ten.
Forecasts for tomorrow suggest there may be more rain for the race.
JOHN HOPKINS – 11th Position, 1:36.673
I’m a bit sore, and I’m heading off for an X-ray now. This morning I was really fighting for grip, and on a real slippery section – the chicane at the end of the back straight – I crashed. I didn’t think I’d done anything different, but the bike spat me off the high side, and I landed right on my shoulder. I was feeling pretty painful in the afternoon, but I went out to try some adjustments to see if we could get some more grip. I was trying a lot of different things. Then as I shut off the gas to go into the corner after the same chicane, the rear suddenly went out from under me. I was fighting to save it, and I think I made the shoulder injury worse.
KENNY ROBERTS Jr. – 17th Position, 1:37.033
In the wet, the problems are the same as in the dry, except multiplied. We already use more traction to go fast with new tyres in the dry than other people require. In the wet, it’s much worse. We require more grip to do a dry lap time than most of the other bikes on the grid, therefore when it is wet we are going to suffer even more. We’re a long way off the pace, and that kind of gives you a good idea of our difficulties.
GARRY TAYLOR – Team Manager
We are having lots of problems at the moment, but practically everyone from the factory who could be here is here, so we have high hopes of finding a direction for the future. In a way, it’s good that so many designers and engineers are here to share the experience and frustration. Now we need to make something positive out of it.
More, from a press release issued by Proton Team KR:
Proton Fastest at Streaming Wet Le Mans
Round 5: French GP, Le Mans
Final Qualifying: Saturday, May 24, 2003
Jeremy McWilliams: 12th, 1:36.720
Nobuatsu Aoki: 20th, 1:37.515
Proton Team KR rider Jeremy McWilliams reeled off a string of fast laps to put his three-cylinder two-stroke KR3 fastest in today’s final qualifying session for tomorrow’s French GP – almost a full second faster than the next man. Team-mate Nobuatsu Aoki also excelled, less than a second slower than McWilliams in spite of some self-imposed tyre limitations, and was third overall.
The times left riders and team praying for more rain tomorrow. The French GP is expected to be the last ever race for the 500cc two-strokes, and best ever results would be distinctly possible on a wet track. Grid positions remained unchanged, however. Overall times on today’s streaming wet track were more than 15 seconds slower than yesterday’s dry-session laps, which determined final starting order.
Fastest lap was not McWilliams’s and the team’s only achievement today. The 39-year-old Ulsterman did almost as many laps on the brand new V5 990cc four-stroke, and the best of them was less than two seconds slower than his time on the two-stroke, and would have put him tenth overall in the session.
This was remarkable, since the new bike had never even been round a corner before it arrived here for first shake-down tests yesterday. Still using guessed-at settings and gearing, and with the engine in a basic state of tune, the promise is clear. When it starts to race, probably at the Italian GP in two weeks, the new Proton V5 will be not only the youngest, noisiest and possibly prettiest bike there, but will pose a clear future threat to the established giants of the new-for-2002 four-stroke MotoGP class.
The bike was built in record time at the team’s Banbury base, in a project that is still less than a year old, underwent straight-line airfield tests in the week before the French GP started, and the only two bikes in existence were then rushed to Le Mans for a nerve-racking but ultimately triumphant public debut.
Jeremy McWilliams
The four-stroke was pretty good in the wet. It surprised me as much as anybody else. It’s so smooth and easy to ride. Of course it’s bigger and clumsier than the two-stroke, but the lap time’s there, and I wasn’t going anywhere near as hard as I could have, because I didn’t want to risk damaging my only new bike. We really needed those laps, to get a lot of data. It’s a pretty good start, for a bike that only arrived and ran on a circuit for the first time yesterday. On the two-stroke – almost a second faster than anybody else is okay in my book. I’ll be praying for rain tomorrow. We could aim for a top ten finish in the dry, but if it is wet we could think of getting on the podium.
Nobuatsu Aoki
I did two laps on the four-stroke than found some problem with the clutch, so I stopped to concentrate on the two-stroke. Things are going quite well. This morning we tired a soft rear tyre, and I wanted to use it again this afternoon, but Bridgestone only have two each, so I must save it for tomorrow in case it rains. Their engineer put some cuts in a medium-soft rear for me this afternoon, but it was not as good as the soft one. I think I could have gone a second faster. Now we just need rain tomorrow.
Kenny Roberts – Team Owner
The data from that session on the four-stroke gained us three days. We need all the time we can get, because in seven or eight days we will be going to Italy for the next GP. We know we will have to change the power band – it’s too broad now, and we need more at the top end. But we haven’t even had to take a motor out yet this weekend, and we’re a lot further along than we expected. I’ll be praying for rain also tomorrow … but every time I do that it always turns out fine.
More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing:
Final Qualifying French Grand Prix at Le Mans Saturday May 26
Weather: Rain
Track Conditions: Fully Wet
Temperature: Air 14°C, Track 13°C
ROSSI FASTEST THANKS TO RECORD BREAKING FRIDAY TIME
After a dry and sunny first qualifying session on Friday May 23, overnight rain continued to fall on the 4.180km Le Mans circuit throughout the Saturday sessions, preventing any of the 23 entrants from improving their times or grid positions. The starting order for Sunday’s 28-lap MotoGP race was therefore determined by the times set on day one, leaving Valentino Rossi (Repsol Honda RC211V) on pole position. His best lap time of 1:35.208 was the new qualifying lap record, and a circuit best lap, with Rossi fully 0.777 seconds ahead of his closest rival Alex Barros (Yamaha).
On the wet second day Rossi also showed a competitive turn of speed, a factor that may have particular relevance if, as very possible, raceday also dawns wet. Second fastest on day two, behind the Proton KR two-stroke triple of Jeremy McWilliams, Rossi is in good shape for the 28-lap race, whatever the conditions.
“I’m very happy for the pole position and to make a good lap time,” said Rossi of his dry session. “We have not so bad setting on the bike in the dry conditions and I am happy today because the wet is not my favourite condition. Anyway, we were fast and we worked very much to find the best settings for the wet. We made some adjustments to the shock and we worked on tyre choice for the race – and it’s possible to be nearly the fastest today as well. I hope tomorrow we have good conditions for the race though.”
Loris Capirossi (Ducati) and Marco Melandri (Yamaha) made up the balance of the front row, with Max Biaggi (Camel Pramac Pons RC211V) taking fifth place, the second highest Honda qualifier.
Experienced campaigner and former Le Mans race winner Biaggi was another rider who spend his energies on Saturday perfecting the settings for the slippery Le Mans track surface. Crashing during Friday’s dry conditions failed to dent Biaggi’s confidence one bit. “We spent today concentrating on finding the best wet set-up,” said the four-time 250cc champion. “The forecasts are that it will rain tomorrow so we had to work hard on that. I am confident because I have had good results at this track in the past. This is no guarantee for the race tomorrow of course, especially if the weather changes between wet and dry, but I hope it will be dry in any case.”
Sete Gibernau (Telefonica Movistar RC211V) was seventh in both wet and dry conditions, and experimented with his wet set-up in timed and untimed sessions today. “We have a lot still to test. This morning we followed one path, and this afternoon another,” said Gibernau. “I am still positive, we are doing as many kilometres with the bike as is possible and this is the most important thing. In Jerez I couldn’t get any race experience with the bike and this is what I need to push the front guys again. Now we have to be careful and maybe take one step back now to take two forward in the future.”
A disappointing day for Tohru Ukawa (Camel Pramac Pons RC211V) put him in a lowly 15th, but eighth overall on the grid in the dry. “We do not have a good wet set-up yet and we have try to make some more changes to the settings tomorrow,” explained Ukawa. “Not small changes either, I think we have to make a big step. The track is very slippery in wet conditions and it is very easy for the tyres to lose grip. I had a crash early in the day and ran off the track under braking in the afternoon but I have no problems with injury.”
Young Honda hotshot Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC211V) found the greasy surface a challenge on Saturday, crashing out twice as he gained experience of Le Mans’ peculiarities. “Bit of a rough day really – this morning in the rain I was really having some fun and was running pretty high up the leader board for a while,” said the ever-enthusiastic Hayden. “I came in and we put in a different tyre and it felt good. I managed one lap and on the second lap it felt like it had a bit more grip and I got kinda excited – and pushed the front and that was it. One of those things. Then this afternoon I as trying to get comfortable again I lost the front!”
Makoto Tamada (Pramac Honda RC211V) made progress in the wet, and starts the race 15th, on the fourth row of the grid. “I found one tyre which was particularly good in the wet and I did a lot of laps on this one. In the morning I was riding carefully because this is my first full day of testing in the wet with Bridgestone tyres. In the afternoon I pushed harder and went 10th.”
Ryuichi Kiyonari (Telefonica Movistar RC211V) found his first experience of riding a MotoGP machine in the wet something of a trial, despite going 17th on today’s times. Overall, he starts from 23rd on the grid. “My objective is to pick up experience, get to know the bike and adapt to this championship as quick as possible. This morning I crashed. Another new experience! I am impatient to get started tomorrow – I don’t know what awaits me but I know the bike is very fast. A friend of mine was right when he said that the RC 211V was a monster!”
Friday’s qualifying times were also the ones that really counted in the 250cc class, even if there is a strong possibility of rain on raceday. Thus Sebastian Porto (Telefonica Movistar Junior Team RS250RW) was the second fastest Honda rider in the wet, posting the seventh quickest lap time, but he was overall quickest RS250RW rider on the grid, in sixth. “Today I had some strange problems with traction in the rain, I couldn’t stop the wheel spin,” said the Argentinian. “Improving that situation will not be difficult, if it rains tomorrow we will be okay. If the weather is dry for the race I also have really good set up for a dry track.”
Championship leader Manuel Poggiali (Aprilia) topped qualifying, from his fellow Aprilia pilots Franco Battaini, Randy De Puniet, Fonsi Nieto and Toni Elias.
Roberto Rolfo (Fortuna Honda RS250RW) eased into the top ten in the dry session, going ninth overall, and his sixth fastest time on Saturday was the fastest Honda lap in the wet.
“I’m happy with the improvements we made from this morning’s free practice session and qualifying,” said Rolfo. “Our job was to find a good compromise between the chassis and the engine power and to try and keep the bike at the same level as our main rivals. I think we have found a good solution for the race, if the conditions are the same as today. Whatever the conditions I will start the race with the conviction of holding on to my championship position.”
The weather conditions had the same effect on the 125 Grand Prix class as all the others, leaving Andrea Dovizioso (Team Scot Racing RS125R) at the head of the combined qualifying times, thanks to a new pole position record of 1:43.565, set in Friday’s dry session. Running off the track after a near crash under braking in the last seconds of Saturday’s wet session did nothing to undermine his confidence for the race itself. “In the dry the bike is very good, in the wet, not so good. I had a crash on the first lap in the wet, the bike was sliding everywhere. In the dry I have no real problems round here, just a little problem on the front end but the bike was soft on the rear so we can fix that. My impression of the bike settings in the dry is good, I can fight for the win. In the wet?”
Youichi Ui (Aprilia) held onto second overall, leading Jorge Lorenzo (Derbi) and Casey Stoner (Aprilia) on the front row of the grid for Sunday’s 24-lap race.
Alex De Angelis (Aprilia) set fifth best time on Friday, keeping Daniel Pedrosa (Telefonica Movistar Junior Team RS125R) in sixth. “The problems began to build up from then halfway point of the afternoon session,” said the young Spaniard. “I was on a fast lap when I literally came up behind four riders who had stopped. Knowing that I couldn’t improve I returned to the box to change my tyres but I still wasn’t able to go quicker.”
Swiss Thomas Luthi (Elit Grand Prix RS125R) completed the top ten, with team-mates Mika Kallio (Ajo Motorsports RS125) and Masao Azuma in 14th and 15th places respectively. Kallio led Azuma and the entire field on the wet qualifying times, a good omen should the weather remain wet through raceday.
Honda rider quotes Le Mans – Saturday:
Valentino Rossi , Repsol Honda Team: 1st: “I’m very happy for the pole position and to make a good lap time. We have not so bad setting on the bike in the dry conditions and I am happy today because the wet is not my favourite conditions. Anyway, we were fast and we worked very much for the settings for the wet. We made some adjustments to the shock and we worked hard on tyre choice for the race – and it’s possible to be nearly the fastest today as well. I hope tomorrow we have good conditions for the race though.”
Max Biaggi, Camel Pramac Pons: 5th: “We spent today concentrating on finding the best wet set-up”. “The forecasts are that it will rain tomorrow so we had to work hard on that. I am confident because I have had good results at this track in the past. This is no guarantee for the race tomorrow of course, especially if the weather changes between wet and dry, but I hope it will be dry in any case.”
Sete Gibernau, Telefonica Movistar Honda: 7th: “We have a lot still to test. This morning we followed one path, and this afternoon another. I am still positive, we are doing as many kilometres with the bike as is possible and this is the most important thing. In Jerez I couldn’t get any race experience with the bike and this is what I need to push the front guys again. Now we have to be careful and maybe take one step back now to take two forward in the future. I feel more comfortable every time I ride the bike but I have to keep working on the set-up and not rush things like at Jerez. I would like tomorrow’s race to be dry to test the bike and pick up more experience so that I can be in good shape for Mugello”.
Tohru Ukawa, Camel Pramac Pons: 8th: “We do not have a good wet set-up yet and we have try to make some more changes to the settings tomorrow,” explained Ukawa. “Not small changes either, I think we have to make a big step. The track is very slippery in wet conditions and it is very easy for the tyres to lose grip. I had a crash early in the day and ran off the track under braking in the afternoon but I have no problems with injury.”
Nicky Hayden, Repsol Honda Team: 13th: “Bit of a rough day really – this morning in the rain I was really having some fun and was running pretty high up the leader board for a while. I came in and we put in a different tyre and it felt good. I managed one lap and on the second lap it felt like it had a bit more grip and I got kinda excited – and pushed the front and that was it. One of those things. Then this afternoon I as trying to get comfortable again I lost the front. I don’t have a lot of experience in the wet – but with the dirt track experience in the States I do quite enjoy it. Got a fourth row start – don’t have a lot of set-up experience here – we’ll just have to see tomorrow!”
Makoto Tamada, Pramac Honda Team: 15th: “I really liked the “rain” solution for the tyres and I did many laps with them to push the bike pretty well to its limits. While I concentrated in the morning on not making mistakes, as I was trying to get a good feeling for the bike in the wet, I went flat out in the afternoon. I like riding in the wet and I don’t think I’m at all bad in these conditions. Even so, I need to find out more about how Bridgestone tyres behave, especially on such a powerful bike, and today gave me some real insight into the matter. With bikes like these, you really need to have perfect control of the throttle and know how to measure out the power of the engine to perfection. If we happen to be working on the dry tomorrow, I’ll be in attack mode. I’m starting out on fourth row, so I know it won’t be easy to overtake and it’s best to overtake only when braking. First the weather, then the strategy. We ‘ll see.”
Ryuichi Kiyonari, Telefonica Movistar Honda: 23: “My objective is to pick up experience, get to know the bike and adapt to this championship as quick as possible. This morning I crashed… another new experience! I am impatient to get started tomorrow – I don’t know what awaits me but I know the bike is very fast. A friend of mine was right when he said that the RC 211V was a monster!”.
Fausto Gresini, Team Manager:
“It is always difficult to get a good result in the wet – for everyone. I am satisfied with how the day has gone: Sete will start from the second row whilst Kiyonari continues to gather experience. I hope that tomorrow Sete gets a good start, especially if it is raining because it is vital to be in the lead group. With Kiyonari we are moving on the right track – he has to keep learning and not worry about the result.”
More, from a press release issued by Fuchs Kawasaki:
MOTOGP CHAMPIONSHIP 2003
ROUND 4 – GRAND PRIX POLINI DE FRANCE
24TH MAY 2003 – QUALIFYING PRACTICE 2
KAWASAKI RIDERS MASTER RAIN AT LE MANS
Fuchs Kawasaki riders, Andrew Pitt and Garry McCoy, took maximum advantage of wet conditions at Le Mans to achieve their best session performances to date during today’s final qualifying period, with both riders impressively finishing in the top twelve on the time sheet. Not surprisingly, both Pitt and McCoy anticipate their best results will come with a continuation of today’s almost constant rain showers during tomorrow’s 28-lap MotoGP race.
Australian rain master McCoy was sixth fastest in the wet and slippery conditions this afternoon, while fellow countryman Pitt continued his impressive rookie form at the 4.1km Bugatti circuit with the 11th fastest lap time. With wet conditions typically placing a greater emphasis on rider ability the ZX-RR Ninja pair showed the potential of Kawasaki’s MotoGP project, which is still very much in a test and development phase.
Kawasaki’s tyre partner Dunlop also played a vital part, with a range of revised front and rear rain tyres that both riders reported gave both improved grip and feel. A new front tread pattern also improved the rider’s confidence in the front end in today’s treacherous conditions.
Unfortunately today’s brilliant wet weather performances count for nothing in terms of final grid positions, as Friday’s faster dry times will count and Pitt and McCoy will share the sixth row of the grid in 21st and 22nd place respectively.
Andrew Pitt – 21st – 1:37.647
“I felt pretty comfortable out there in the rain, although like everyone I would prefer to race in the dry. I’ve done a lot of laps and I’m happy with how things are going on my first visit to the Le Mans circuit. In the morning session the bike was moving around at the rear quite a bit, but we changed a few things and it’s much better now; not so loose on corner entry. The feel and stability of the new wet front tyre gives you a lot of confidence and we’ve done enough laps today to know which tyres to race on if it does stay wet for tomorrow. If it’s dry, then that’s okay too, as we identified a good set-up and race tyre during Friday’s dry qualifying session.”
Garry McCoy – 22nd – 1:38.956
“It’s never a lot of fun racing in the rain, but for once I’ll be happy if it’s raining tomorrow. I guess what the rain does is equal out the bikes a bit more and gives the riders a chance to show their ability. It also helps a lot when you get rain tyres like Dunlop supplied us with today. They were definitely a step up from what I’ve used in the past, a little unbelievable, especially the drive grip. For me the front tyre now rolls into the corners better, there is a more progressive feel and that helps in the rain. I didn’t change the bike much today, just softened up the suspension and got plenty of track time getting used to the whole package and working out the tyre options.”
More, from a press release issued by Pramac Honda:
Le Mans (France) Round 4 – 23/24/25 May – 2003
Saturday 24 May – Qualifying
Tenth place in the rain at Le Mans
Makoto Tamada worked well on the soaking track at Le Mans. As forecast yesterday, rain disrupted today’s test sessions. Yesterday’s practice sessions were thus confirmed for tomorrow’s starting grid, putting Tamada, who made 15th quickest time, on fourth row. For Makoto, today was his first real experience in the MotoGP on Bridgestone tyres in the rain, so the 10th fastest time he made today is adequate confirmation of the adaptability this great Japanese rider possesses. Enormous progress was made from this morning’s free practice – again in the rain – to this afternoon: modifications to the set-up of the RC211V and some excellent tyres for the wet gave Tamada extra speed and his team technicians were fully satisfied with his lap times. The latest satellite pictures suggest that there is going to be a clear about-turn in weather conditions tomorrow and that the track will probably already be dry when the race takes place. In any case, the two sessions today made it possible to collect a considerable amount of data and test a number of different “rain” solutions. Particularly for the front tyre, which had very generous grooving that the rider liked more than any other.
Makoto Tamada (Pramac Honda Team):
10th in today’s practice in the wet: 1:53,639
15th on the grid, with yesterday’s time: 1:36,868
“I really liked the “rain” solution for the tyres and I did many laps with them to push the bike pretty well to its limits. While I concentrated in the morning on not making mistakes, as I was trying to get a good feeling for the bike in the wet, I went flat out in the afternoon. I like riding in the wet and I don’t think I’m at all bad in these conditions. Even so, I need to find out more about how Bridgestone tyres behave, especially on such a powerful bike, and today gave me some real insight into the matter. With bikes like these, you really need to have perfect control of the throttle and know how to measure out the power of the engine to perfection. If we happen to be working on the dry tomorrow, I’ll be in attack mode. I’m starting out on fourth row, so I know it won’t be easy to overtake and it’s best to overtake only when braking. First the weather, then the strategy. We’ll see.”
More, from a press release issued by Alice Aprilia Racing:
LE MANS – The rain became the main protagonist of this second qualification day at Le Mans circuit. The technical staff of Alice Aprilia Racing team tried to find the right setting for the wet but it’s not so easy as the bike still needs some improvements to become competitive in the dry as well. Anyway they worked a lot to get the best result after this second qualifying session. The weather forecast for tomorrow are unsettled but in any case the Aprilia riders want to join the fight!
COLIN EDWARDS: “We had to set up the bike over again: new setting for wet conditions today. I would have had more time to improve the bike in the dry but we have been forced to work for a wet race. I am not expecting a mixed weather conditions: wet or dry nothing else otherwise I will be forced to join the fight. This is not my favourite situation but I have to adapt my rising style to the others!”
NORIYUKI HAGA: “The asphalt is a real disaster! It’s like ice and for sure I hope in a dry race as the feeling with the bike is not enough. If the race conditions are unsettled tomorrow will be like a lottery. I hope to be lucky!”
FRANCESCO GUIDOTTI (Team Coordinator): “Today we have not enough traction as well and the situation becomes worse in the wet. The rain slowed down our improvements so we are not so competitive. Besides we will start from the fifth row but I know that Colin and Nori will join the fight anyaway!”
More, from a press release issued by Fortuna Yamaha:
WET LE MANS FINAL QUALIFIER CEMENTS MELANDRI’S DEBUT MOTOGP FRONT ROW START
As predicted the weather for the French Grand Prix took a turn for the worse during the final qualifying session today, however cementing MotoGP rookie Marco Melandri’s debut front row start for tomorrow’s 28-lap race. The young
Italian posted a 1:36.161 time aboard his Fortuna Yamaha Team YZR-M1 in yesterday’s dry qualifier to be the fourth fastest, from a field of 23
entries. This will only be Melandri’s second MotoGP race, since the high-speed incident in Suzuka that put him out of contention for the first two races this season. The talented 20-year-old will start Sunday’s main event alongside riders in the calibre of polesitter and defending MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi (Honda, 1:35.208), Alex Barros (Gauloises Yamaha Team, 1:35.985) and third place qualifier Loris Capirossi (Ducati, 1:36.019).
With no opportunity to improve his time in the wet conditions Melandri spent both free practice and qualifying focusing heavily on finding a competitive wet weather set-up in preparation for what could possibly be a wet Le Mans Grand Prix tomorrow. Although the 2002 250cc World Champion feels confident that he and the team have found what they were looking for Melandri is still
hopeful for a dry race for both himself and the fans.
“I’m actually not as happy as I was yesterday as I couldn’t go really fast today because of the weather,” joked Melandri. “But I can’t complain
because I’m on the front row and it’s only my second race of the year with the M1. Riding this bike in wet conditions is completely different to
riding it in the dry but I do have some wet weather experience from winter tests, as we had some really bad weather in our tests in Jerez. Seriously I am delighted with today’s result because two weeks ago I was on the fourth row, which was a totally different situation. I also
