Tomorrow he starts from the front row again
DANIEL PEDROSA
(2nd, 2’04”451): “That’s not bad at all. It’s the first time we’ve ridden here in the dry with the 250 and in just a 45 minute session I got to within four tenths of last year’s pole. It is a good result in a session which we really had to rush, but at the end of the day it’s given us the chance to gather some references for a dry race, which is what we’re hoping for. I’m happy, even though I got blocked by De Puniet and I didn’t like that because he did it on purpose. Anyway, I have done my job well, which was to prepare as well as possible for the race. It will be a tough race and I think it will be quite open because none of us have had much time to work”.
HIROSHI AOYAMA
(14th 2’06”595): “Incredible! They had warned me that this circuit would be tough but I didn’t expect it would be this hard... I really have to get used to it and to be honest, with just 45 minutes, it’s impossible to get a clear idea. It’s going to be tough”.
ALBERTO PUIG
(Team Manager): “It was an interesting and hard session at the same time because we have had very little time to work and decide what is best. We always need four sessions to be properly ready: Hiro to get to know the track and Dani the same with the bike. We had to do everything at once today and I’m very satisfied with Dani’s result. I’m also sure that Hiro will learn with every lap in the race because this is a particularly hard circuit for a rookie. Tomorrow we’ll try and make a few changes and aim for the best possible result as always.”
QUALIFICATION TIMES
- Sebastian Porto (Arg/Aprilia) 2’03”668
- Dani Pedrosa (Spa/Honda) + 0”783
- Randy De Puniet (Fra/Aprilia) + 0”861
- Toni Elías (Spa/Honda) + 1”170
- Manuel Poggiali (RSM/Aprilia) + 1”235
…..
14. Hiroshi Aoyama (Jap/Honda) + 2”927