Nicky Hayden prepares his assault on the podium in Jerez.
The rider of the Repsol Honda Team sets the fourth fastest time; Dani Pedrosa keeps the pole and Sebastián Porto the second place.
MotoGP experienced today its first qualifying session as a result of the new regulations with three free practice sessions two on Friday and one on Saturday morning -, and only one session on Saturday afternoon determining the grid positions. Three are the names being mentioned for the places on the podium tomorrow: Gibernau, Rossi and Nicky Hayden, who have shown to be the riders in best shape right now.
Hayden, who has never been outside the top three during the free practice sessions, kept on working on the settings of his bike with a view to the race. Only during the last instants of the session, the North American rider fitted qualifying tyres to secure a good place on the starting grid. However, he finally missed the front row by two tenths, after being passed by Italian rider Melandri. The Repsol rider is nonetheless happy with his fourth place. His teammate Max Biaggi, who seemed to have found the right path this morning after setting the seventh fastest time, was set back again due to the continuous chattering problems. His back position on the grid after setting the sixteenth fastest time wont make it easy for the Roman rider, who will have to be especially watchful during the start if he wants to keep any chance for a good result.
In the 250cc, Repsol riders Dani Pedrosa and Sebastián Porto are right now one step ahead the rest of the pack. Theyve both taken the leading places on the grid, joined by another Repsol rider, Randy De Puniet on fourth. Reigning world champion Dani Pedrosa, will start with the best clock of the timed sessions. From what weve been able to see in these two days, the race promises to be a duel between Dani Pedrosa and Sebastián Porto. The Spaniard has the advantage of racing at home, but the Argentinean, very focussed this season, knows that hell have his first chance to fight for the victory on his way to the title.
In the 125cc, Héctor Faubel was again the best of the Repsol riders in the minor class. Héctor, like most of the 125cc riders was not able to improve the fastest time he set yesterday due to the strong wind. The small 125cc machines, given their lightness, are by far more sensitive to the strong gusts of wind on the Andalusian track. Of the top ten riders, only two, Lai and Koyama, were able to improve the time set yesterday.
Repsol rider´s comments:
MotoGP. Nicky Hayden
4th, 140.465, 25 laps:
Fourth isnt the end of the world. Obviously Id have liked to be on the front row after having been there all weekend. I made a little mistake on my second qualifying run when I ran into some traffic but Im not making excuses. It was really windy out there and pretty challenging on some of the fast corners. I feel good about the set-up of the bike. I just want to get a good start and mix it with the boys were all in the ring together. I cant wait. The atmosphere here is unreal. Its gonna be a good show tomorrow for sure!
MotoGP. Max Biaggi
16th, 141.233, 27 laps:
How did it go? The lap times tell: 16th time, only three riders behind me today. Ive never done any worse than that in my entire life, not even at my first race in the Sport Production, back in 1989. The result tells that there is a huge mystery. I know I drove to the limit and I have the skill to claim that more than this was not possible. Racing tires, soft tires or qualifying tires made no differences in this condition. Cornering, in and out, turned again to the nightmare I had here at last IRTA test. Im very disappointed and I feel sorry especially for my supporters. Also for them tomorrow I will keep on pushing it to my best until the last lap. Hoping that, sooner or later, this terrible dream will come to an end.
250. Dani Pedrosa
1st, 142.868, 17 laps.
1st on the grid:
Weve been able to test more than once on this circuit during the winter, so the bike is perfectly set for the race. Itll surely be a very hard race and there are several riders eager to beat me no matter what but I also want to beat them, so its going to be a very interesting and complicated first race. It would be good if the wind calms down for tomorrow, but were ready for anything. This isnt a circuit I especially like, but, in front of our fans, Id love to change history once and for all and make a great race.
250. Randy De Puniet
3rd, 143.444, 22 laps.
4th on the grid:
The weather conditions werent that good due to the strong wind. It made it much more complicated to improve times but we finally managed to improve the time set yesterday by some tenths. Were very close to the lead and well be starting the race from the front row. I have good feelings with the bike and we also got a good rhythm. I think that were going to make a good race and finish on the podium, although I dont dismiss the victory.
250. Sebastián Porto
4th, 143.488, 18 laps.
2nd on the grid:
Im happy with the result because this is the first qualifying practice of the year. Weve been working throughout the weekend thinking about the race and riding always with a full tank to see how the bike behaves under such conditions. We couldnt improve our time in the afternoon, during the qualifying practice, because we had a small problem but fortunately we already know the reason. Im relaxed and confident for the race, because we have a good pace and Im confident of a good result.
125. Héctor Faubel
33rd, 152.615, 6 laps.
7th on the grid:
I was highly motivated today to improve the time I had set yesterday and try to get a place on the front row, but the wind and some problems on the bike hindered me both in the morning and in the afternoon session. I made only a few laps in this second qualifying session but I managed to keep the place on the second row. It was obviously good for me that not many riders were able to improve yesterdays times, but the wind and the dirt on the track were bad for all of us. I hope to be able to fight for the podium tomorrow; Im sure that the fans will push all Spanish riders to a good result.
