Sebastian Porto sets steady pace in 250.
Pablo Nieto, fourth also grabs a place on the front row; Hayden seventh and Barros ninth, both in the third row
The first qualifying practices of the Spanish Motorcycle Grand Prix have been held today at the Andalusian track of Jerez. In MotoGP, it was again Valentino Rossi who set the fastest provisional time of the starting grid, ahead of Gibernau, Checa and Biaggi. Nicky Hayden set the seventh fastest time, Barros was ninth and Rubén Xaus twelfth. Barros and Xaus were on the same place this morning while Hayden, highly competitive during these first sessions, set the second fastest time of the free practices. In the afternoon, the rider from Kentucky managed to place himself second with two minutes left for the end of the session, but five riders passed him in only an instant without leaving him any opportunity to improve his times. Rubén Xaus and his Ducati finished twelfth on a track they had already been lapping a month ago during the IRTA tests.
Sebastián Porto is still showing to be the fastest rider of the 250 GP. Fastest this morning ahead of De Puniet, Rolfo and Poggiali, the Argentinean rider set the pace in the afternoon session as well, being the only one capable of getting under 1’44 and becoming the fastest rider ever on the Spanish track with a 250cc machine. Porto, who kept himself on top of the time sheets almost throughout the session, suffered a spectacular crash five minutes before the end of the session, fortunately getting unhurt. On the fast Ferrari right-hand corner, the rear tyre of his Aprilia went over the supporting kerb getting in contact with the grass. The bike went crossway, throwing Porto off and away. Despite the spectacular crash, Porto finished the session in the lead with an advantage of almost four tenths over the second rider, Manuel Poggiali from San Marino. His team-mate Fonsi Nieto didn’t have much luck in this first day of the Spanish Grand Prix. Winner in 2002, Fonsi finished seventh after suffering problems, some of them technical and some more unusual ones, like the wasp that got into his leathers and stung the Repsol rider during the timed session.
In the minor class, Pablo Nieto is back on the place where he suffered one of the biggest deceptions of his sports career. Last year, during the 2003 GP, Pablo was riding straight to what would have been his first victory in the World Championship, but the gearlever broke only a few laps before the end of the race. Today, and in order to leave the ghosts of the past behind, the youngest member of the Nieto clan set the fourth fastest time proving to be a firm candidate for the battle for victory which will be held on Sunday. His teammate Sergio Gadea set the twenty-fourth fastest time.
