New pole for Dani Pedrosa, with Nicky Hayden fifth and Biaggi eighth in MotoGP.
The weather forecasts threaten the normal development of the Grand Prix making it difficult to make any prediction.
Despite the low temperatures and the black threatening clouds over the English track, the rain finally didnt show up and the practices went off quietly during the second day of the British Grand Prix. In the premier class, the riders of the Repsol Honda Team carried out both practices of the day without incidences. During the highly contended qualifying practice both Hayden and Biaggi had the chance to get a place on the front row of the starting grid but finally took fifth for the North American and eighth for the Italian- second and third row. Despite not starting tomorrow from the leading positions, they both trust in starting with the leading group and be part of the fight for the podium places.
In the 250cc, significant improvement of Sebastián Porto today, after the feeble results of yesterday due to several mechanical problems with his Aprilia.
Though eleventh after the first qualifying session staged yesterday, the Argentinean rider was able to show a significant improvement already this morning setting the sixth fastest time and improving one position in the afternoons second qualifying session. His teammate Randy De Puniet, seventh fastest yesterday, was sixth this afternoon, so that both of Aspars pupils will be starting from the second row of the grid. Dani Pedrosa, fourth fastest yesterday after the first qualifying practice, took the pole today after an intense fight with Lorenzo, who finally had to settle for second.
In the 125cc, neither Sergio Gadea nor Héctor Faubel were able to improve yesterdays performance, having to settle for back positions on the grid. In the case of Sergio Gadea, who had been eleventh fastest yesterday, the strong crash of the Aspar rider during the mornings free practice, directly affected the riders performance in the afternoon. He suffered several contusions which hindered him from giving it all in the decisive second qualifying session, having to settle for the fourteenth place. His teammate Héctor Faubel, quite lost as regards the set-up of his Aprilia, finished in the same position as yesterday, thirteenth. They will both be starting tomorrow from the fourth row of the grid. Repsol rider´s comments
MotoGP. Nicky Hayden,
5th on the grid
Third free practice 4th, 129.451, 30 laps
Firs qualifying practice 5th, 128.415, 31 laps
We made quite a bit of progress today really. The squad have done a real good job in really thinking about things and have come up with some good stuff which makes the bike feel a lot better. From that standpoint Im happy. My problem is that everyone else has improved quite a bit as well its what happens here! and we still have quite a bit to do. We had a little problem at the end of the session and didnt end up using the last qualifier. Overall the bike feels better but were really going to have to come up with something for tomorrow. Were going to have to be ready to dig deep in the race because my pace is a little off but I have confidence that well be able to come up with something by 15.30 tomorrow.
MotoGP. Max Biaggi,
8th on the grid
Third free practice 7th, 129.692, 30 laps
First qualifying practice 8th, 128.726, 32 laps
Of course Im not so happy with the result because this year Ive had such problems in qualifying. Its very unusal for me. I cant believe I cant go faster than third row. With the race tyre we are not so far off but with the qualifyier we hit much trouble I just cant use it properly. My entry speed into the corners is just too slow this is the problem we have. I always seem to be riding with this feeling of chatter all year. Much more of a problem than last year and we just dont seem to have an answer at the moment! I will have another tough race tomorrow starting from this position.
250. Dani Pedrosa,
1st on the grid
Second free practice 5th, 132.771, 28 laps
Second qualifying practice 1st, 131.834, 21 laps
Todays practice has been good; we improved compared to yesterday both as regards feelings and lap times. Weve also almost decided which set-up should be the best for tomorrow. Lets see what the weather does, but the forecast doesnt look very well. If it rains, the race will be totally different to what we have seen so far. Depending on the conditions well also have different rivals. There are rain specialists such as Stoner or De Puniet, while Lorenzo seems to be the strongest for a dry track.The bad side of this practice has been the crash towards the end of the afternoon session. I had quite a speed and ran across a slower rider before the downhill section. He looked back and saw me but he didnt move, he stayed on the line. I reached the braking point and had to overtake him because he was riding very slowly. I had to move aside to get some more space to enter the chicane. I went on the kerb and since I had the brakes on I crashed. The problem is that often the other riders get into your line forcing you to brake or move from the line. But the worst thing is that many of them see you and dont move away. You can loose a fast lap, a pole or even a race and, although I didnt hurt myself today, its very dangerous.
250. Sebastián Porto,
5th on the grid
Second free practice 6th, 132.871, 24 laps
Second qualifying practice 5th, 132.615, 18 laps
Today went better than yesterday but I am not completely happy. At least we improved our position and the bike has improved as well. Due to the problems we had yesterday we are a bit behind the other riders. Ten minutes from the end of the session I lost the front end of the bike and fell at a corner in the second part of the circuit. We will see what happens with the weather tomorrow, if it rains we will be starting from scratch again. But we will try to make sure we improve to be closer to the others.
250. Randy De Puniet,
6th on the grid
Second free practice 3rd, 132.466, 28 laps
Second qualifying practice 6th, 132.804, 22 laps
I did a good lap this morning and found some good rhythm, but I found a lot of traffic on the track in the afternoon and had to be content with sixth position. Tomorrow I will start from the second row and I hop ethe conditions are dry so we can get a good result.
125. Héctor Faubel,
13th on the grid
Second free practice 9th, 138.714, 22 laps
Second qualifying practice 11th, 138.372, 15 laps
I am not at all happy with todays result. I am still having problems with the front of the bike and the engine is not 100 percent which means we will have to put in some more work before tomorrows race. I honestly expected a lot more here at Donington, but there is still tomorrow to put things right. I hope to climb up the field and get into the top group. The truth is we are starting quite far down so if it rains it wont change things much for us.
125. Sergio Gadea,
14th on the grid
Second free practice 25th, 139.698, 11 laps
Second qualifying practice 17th, 138.911, 14 laps
This morning I suffered a big fall. I was lapping slowly and Luthi overtook me and it happened when I began to push behind him. I was going well and felt comfortable, but the front end of the bike went and I could not avoid falling. It was a shame because I lost some of the rhythm and feeling I had on the bike after the fall. Tomorrow I will start from quite far down, but I will try to get a good start and see if we can get a good result.
Track conditions
- Air: 22º-24º
- Asphalt: 25º-29º
- Humidity: 23%-26%
- Wind: 6 Km/h
