Sebastian Porto keeps the pole. Repsol Honda Team riders get ready to fight for the podium.
Nicky Hayden, second and Alex Barros, fourth, take their marks in a very even second qualifying session in MotoGP.
Despite the rain showing up intermittently in the morning, the three afternoon qualifying sessions were carried out under dry conditions and splendid sunshine. Its been a very positive day in the MotoGP class for the riders of the Repsol Honda Team, although both riders were hindered by the red flag shown on the track during the second and definitive timed session. Eight minutes before the end of the session Kurtis Roberts and his Proton suffered a spectacular crash that ended up with the motorcycle in flames and red flags being waved all along the circuit, provisionally stopping the second qualifying session. At the same time, Alex Barros and Nicky Hayden were making their first fast lap to look for a good place on the grid. Once the session was restarted, eight minutes to the end, both riders of the Repsol Honda Team started with resolution looking for a place on the first row. The first one to make it was Barros, putting himself third behind Gibernau, pole, and Rossi. But some instants later, the Brazilian was passed by his teammate Hayden third-, setting Barros back to the fourth position and the second row of the grid. In the afternoon qualifying session, Gibernau, Hayden and Rossi finished separated by only six thousands of a second. Rubén Xaus had also a good performance, setting the fourteenth fastest time. The clock he set today, 151.405, is half a second faster than last years pole, set by Rossi, with 1.51.927.
The day didnt start well for Sebastián Porto in the 250 GP. After six laps in the morning practice Porto flew off his Aprilia suffering a spectacular and heavy crash due to a mechanical failure. Fortunately, it only resulted in some bruises and the Argentinean Repsol rider was able to rejoin the practice on his second bike. In the afternoon session, Porto went on the track with the firm idea to finish off the settings and control his rivals to secure himself a place on the first row of the grid. Eventually Jorge Martínez Aspars pupil managed to set the third fastest time of the session, keeping the pole he had set yesterday, because no other rider was able to improve his fastest time. His teammate Fonsi Nieto, eighth fastest yesterday, lost one position today ninth and will be starting tomorrow from the third row of the starting grid.
In the minor class, Pablo Nieto was not able to improve his grid position and will be starting tomorrow from the third row, after setting the twelfth fastest time today. His teammate Sergio Gadea improved the time he set yesterday by almost two seconds and will be starting tomorrow from the ninth row of the grid after finishing thirty-third.
