Today has not been the best Grand Prix qualifying day for the Repsol Honda Team riders. In the qualifying session for the Dutch race, sixth on the 2010 World Championship calendar, Andrea Dovizioso clocked up the sixth best time – second row of the starting grid – and Dani Pedrosa, the seventh – third row -.
Yesterday, both riders commented on the problems they were having with the set-up of their machines, which after having a competitive set-up in Silverstone just a few days ago, have had the unpleasant surprise in Holland that the factory team Honda RC212V has not been adapted, from the start, to the special characteristics of the Dutch track.
In this morning’s free practice, everything seemed to suggest that Pedrosa’s technicians were on the right track to improving the performance of his Honda RC212V. Dani finished third, 0.6 seconds behind Lorenzo, who clocked up the best time. Andrea Dovizioso did not make much progress this morning and finished seventh, 0.8 seconds behind Lorenzo.
In the afternoon, after making several changes to the set-up of their machines, the Repsol Honda Team riders went out on the track with the hardest compound tyre first to work on the race set-up. With just ten minutes to go, the pair went back out on the track with the softest compound Bridgestone has at this track in order to open a gap for themselves on the starting grid. However, the laps passed but both were unable to get into the fight for the best time. Finally, low positions for both Repsol riders with Andrea Dovizioso sixth and Dani Pedrosa seventh.
Dani Pedrosa, 1’35.162 sec, 58 laps, 263 km. >> Audio
“This morning we started with some adjustments to the suspension and we went a little harder at the front end. My fastest lap time was ok this morning but to be honest we didn’t find the solutions we were looking for and we still have some work to do to find the right set-up. In T1, where we were losing a lot of time yesterday, things have improved a little bit but clearly not enough – and we also have to improve the feeling when I brake because at the moment I can’t push to the maximum. It’s a similar situation on the soft or the hard option Bridgestones so that choice isn’t made yet for us. We’ll keep on working this evening and try to make some significant improvements for the race tomorrow”.
Andrea Dovizioso, 1’35.015 sec, 58 laps, 263 km. >> Audio
“Tomorrow we will start from the second row which is ok, and with a good start I hope to get away with the leaders. The gap to the front of five tenths of a second is not too much and we also have a good race pace, although actually I set this lap when I was following Lorenzo. We have some front end issues that we need to solve and this is what we want to sort out by tomorrow afternoon – otherwise it will be a difficult race. In fact I’m losing time in T3 and T4, which are the fastest parts of the track, so front end feel is really important here. However, I’m feeling confident and I think that me and the team can come up with some ideas to improve things for tomorrow”.
