GOOD START AT PHILLIP ISLAND
 

The Telefónica MoviStar Honda MotoGP team made a good start to the Australian Grand Prix, with Sete Gibernau and Colin Edwards in second and fourth position respectively. Sete got back to the work ethic which has given such positive results this season, making very few pit stops and setting a fast pace on race tyres. The Spaniard was just three tenths off the provisional pole pace of Valentino Rossi after running 30 laps on the same front tyre. Track conditions varied throughout the course of the day, with wind and rain in the morning and dry in the afternoon, but Gibernau found a good feeling in both sessions. Colin Edwards’s extra motivation at Phillip Island was clear from the first session, the American feeling comfortale and setting a good rhythm on race tyres.

SETE GIBERNAU

(2nd, 1’30”600): “I am enjoying riding again at this circuit. In the morning, in the wind and the rain, we found the right way forward and in the afternoon we were able to start working on the dry setting making just a few small changes. We’ve got a decent rhythm and tomorrow we will have to work particularly on our tyre choice for the race. I did the session just as I wanted to, with only a couple of pit-stops and a lot of consecutive laps on a hard front tyre. Hopefully I can keep making progress from here”.

COLIN EDWARDS

(4th, 1’31”387): “I’m really looking forward to racing at this track. My family and a lot of friends are here and my motivation couldn’t be higher. We have done a good job on the set-up and tried out a lot of different tyres for the race. I have got a good feeling on the bike and, although the setting could be improved, it’s already good. I set a consistent pace and even though I improved on qualifying tyres it wasn’t quite enough.”

FAUSTO GRESINI

(Team manager): “In general the team have done a good job. Sete and Colin are both comfortable here and, as well as good provisional positions, they have been consistent. Tomorrow, weather permitting, they will have to keep improving but it is a good start.”

LAP TIMES

1.      Valentino Rossi (Ita/Yamaha) 1’30”222

2.      Sete Gibernau (Esp/Honda) + 0”378

3.      Nicky Hayden (USA/Honda) + 1”155

4.      Colin Edwards (USA/Honda) + 1”165

5.      Rubén Xaus (Esp/Ducati) + 1”304

6.      Loris Capirossi (Ita/Ducati) + 1”349