Fourth pole, second in a row, for Dani Pedrosa in the MotoGP class
Nicky Hayden completes the success of the Repsol Honda Team with his third place on the starting grid.
Despite the final success, the day didnt start especially well for Dani Pedrosa, who suffered a spectacular crash 7 minutes before the end of the third free session, while he was leading the time sheets. The front tyre of his bike lost grip while braking.
Despite the incident, Dani was unhurt and was able to take part in the qualifying session. His team of mechanics, after making an excellent work in a record time, managed to repair the bike that had been badly damaged during the crash. Pedrosa finished however the free practice as second fastest, right behind his team mate Nicky Hayden. In the afternoon, at the decisive qualifying session which had to define the positions for tomorrows starting grid, the Repsol Honda Team played again the leading role, with both riders getting a place on the front row. Pedrosa made it clear to all those who had doubts about whether he would be fit for the practice after the crash, that he was in top shape leading the timed session firmly and finally taking his fourth pole in the MotoGP class, for the second consecutive time.
Nicky Hayden, who was second in the last minute of the session, was finally passed by Roberts and will start tomorrow from the front row of the grid after setting the third fastest time. In the quarter-of-a-litre class, bad day for both riders of the Repsol Honda Team 250cc, with Shuhei Aoyama unable to improve the time he had set yesterday finally tenth on the grid and his team mate Martín Cárdenas finishing sixteenth. Aoyama will take the start from the third row and Cárdenas from the fourth.
In the 125cc class, Bradley Smith performed today one of his best practice sessions since his start in the Motorcycling World Championship this season. After setting the twenty-second fastest time yesterday at the first qualifying practices, the Repsol rider managed to make a big step forward today. Ninth in the mornings free practices an announcement of his intentions Smith set the thirteenth fastest time in the second and decisive qualifying practice of the afternoon, although he was finally fourteenth in the combined results of both sessions. Thanks to this result, Smith will be starting tomorrow from the fourth row of the starting grid.
Rider´s comments
Dani Pedrosa,
62 laps, 22760 Km:
Im happy to get on pole position but the most important thing really was to get on the front row because the track is very tight at the beginning and there are only two or three passing points here. Im fine after the crash this morning, but the bike was not so lucky. The mechanics worked very hard through lunch to have the bike ready for qualifying and first of all this afternoon I just tried to run-in the bike and check everything. Then I pushed harder and my lap time was good, so overall Im pleased with how it went today. Of course the most important thing is to use the front row position to get a good start tomorrow and see how the race goes.
Nicky Hayden,
64 laps, 23494 Km:
Im happy to be on the front row and this is the best Ive qualified for a while, so its been positive. Weve been close out of the gate and we havent had to make a lot of big changes to the set-up, weve just been sweetening it up, and I think weve got a pretty strong package this weekend. Its been one of the better weekends so far this year. I would have liked to get down into the 1m 21s today and I thought it was possible, but getting on the front row of the grid is really important here and Ill be planning to get a good start tomorrow. Well try and find a little extra pace in the warm-up and then Im looking forward to a dogfight tomorrow in the race.
Shuhei Aoyama,
53 laps, 19456 Km:
Im very disappointed because I didnt expect a result like this, although the race is fortunately tomorrow. Things went well yesterday, but this morning we took the wrong way as regards the bikes settings so we had to go back. Then I just havent been able to make a fast enough lap at the end of the second qualifying practice, and that set me back in the grid. We have, however, a good race pace, so well have to be really watchful at the start.
Martín Cárdenas,
47 laps, 17253 Km:
The collarbone is doing great. I havent felt any pain during the weekend; the practice however has been a little bit disappointing. I felt quite good in the morning but in the afternoon I crashed at the beginning and lost some confidence. I was finally able to improve my time a bit, but not as much as I expected. We were testing a harder tyre for the front and entering a corner the steering just got closed so I crashed. I hope to be able to make a good start tomorrow to get the front group and try to stay there.
Bradley Smith,
41 laps, 15051 Km:
Its good to repeat. Im thirteenth fastest, like in Donington, though obviously Donington was my home round but its nice to show everyone that I can still do it even if Im not at my own track so thats a really good, positive thing. Its a shame because I should have kept going after my fast lap. I tried to make another one but the tyres werent as good. After looking back on it we could have improved and given us another chance but still I got to be happy and Im looking forward to the race.
Standings
MotoGP
- D.Pedrosa (Honda) 1’21.815
- K.Roberts (KR) 1’21.907
- N.Hayden (Honda) 1’22.083
- S.Nakano (Kawasaki) 1’22.273
- L.Capirossi (Ducati) 1’22.329
250
- J.Lorenzo (Aprilia) 1’25.073
- Y.Takahashi (Honda) 1’25.151
- H.Barberá (Aprilia) 1’25.160
- R.Locatelli (Aprilia) 1’25.256
- A.de Angelis (Aprilia) 1’25.301
10. S.Aoyama (Honda) 1’25.813
16. M.Cárdenas (Honda) 1’26.662
125
- L.Pesek (Derbi) 1’27.064
- A.Bautista (Aprilia) 1’27.283
- M.Pasini (Aprilia) 1’27.417
- M.Kallio (KTM) 1’27.607
- N.Terol (Derbi) 1’27.777
14. B.Smith (Honda) 1’28.292
