Czech GP. Second practice

New pole for Fonsi Nieto and third place for Rossi in MotoGP
Pedrosa finished third in the 125cc, Elias seventh in the 250cc and Ukawa eighth in MotoGP
 Kato’s debut on a four-stroke bike and the increased competitiveness of the M1 Yamahas has conferred excitement and evenness to the premier category. This has been with no doubt the most hard-fought and closest dispute for the pole of this season in the class, with Max Biaggi, fastest rider at the end of the session, Daijiro Kato and Valentino Rossi as main protagonists. And while the reigning world champion had to conform with the third place after loosing his last chance to make a fast lap, the other rider of the Repsol Honda Team, the Japanese Tohru Ukawa, set the eighth fastest time, which will allow him to start tomorrow from the second row of the starting grid. Yesterday’s fastest rider in both practice sessions and fastest again today, Fonsi Nieto keeps on proving to be the quickest rider in the 250cc class. The advantage in the overall standings 25 points – of the current leader Marco Melandri, and Fonsi Nieto’s wish to be on the highest step of the podium again, something he hasn’t managed to do since France, are reasons enough to look forward to the Repsol rider’s reaction at the Czech Grand Prix. With Nieto immersed in the fight for the title, his team-mate Toni Elias keeps on working hard in the shade, step by step, but resolute. After his results in the practice sessions, seventh after the second timed session, and most of all, his constant and fast pace, Elias is expected to be one of the protagonists of tomorrow’s race.  In the minor class, everything is ready for the big fight. With twelve riders separated by less than a second on the starting grid, anything will be possible. Leading the classification is the young Italian rider Alex de Angelis, with Dani Pedrosa third, only two tenths away from the pole time, while Joan Olivé is twelfth and therefore on the third row of the starting grid. Pablo Nieto, who set the fastest time yesterday, was set back to the seventh position of the starting grid.