Another Grand Prix, same result. Sete Gibernau has collected yet another provisional pole position in the first qualifying session for the German Grand Prix, following the team’s plans as they carefully prepare for Sunday’s race: finding a rhythm at a circuit where every tenth is worth its weight in gold and making sure of a good grid position. Eight minutes from the end of the session, Sete fitted a qualifying tyre and became the first man to dip under 1’23”, improving Max Biaggi’s pole record from last year by a second. Colin Edwards is still not comfortable at a circuit where the times are always tight and was unable to qualify any higher than 15th.
SETE GIBERNAU
(1st, 1’23”247): “After the small but expensive mistake we made in Brazil, the team have once again proved that we are at an extremely high level. Mentally it was important to have a good session today which gives us a definite chance of fighting at the top again tomorrow. We have a good base to work from in terms of race rhythm and that is vital at such a small circuit, where there are a lot of riders within just a couple of tenths. The result will depend on the tyres and the rhythm we have in the race. It will be a tough race, as it was last year, and we have to be ready.”
COLIN EDWARDS
(15º, 1’24”416): “I am not happy at all and right now I’m feeling a little disappointed. In the morning I felt quite good and in the afternoon I went backwards. The bike was the same, so I don’t know why I didn’t feel good in the afternoon.”
FAUSTO GRESINI
(Team manager): “Sete has had another good session. He has got a good rhythm for the race, although there is room for improvement, and he has set a good time. We decided to put the qualification tyre on quite early and get back to working for the race. Colin is still having problems and it’s difficult to pinpoint where they are coming from. He has to analyse it himself first so that we can find the best solution within the team”.
LAP TIMES
1. Sete Gibernau (Esp/Honda) 1’23”247
2. Nicky Hayden (USA/Honda) a 0”206
3. Valentino Rossi (Ita/Yamaha) a 0”292
4. Alex Barros (Bra/Honda) a 0”378
5. Kenny Roberts (USA/Suzuki) a 0”437
6. Marco Melandri (Ita/Yamaha) a 0”445
……
- Colin Edwards (USA/Honda) a 1”169