In one of the most exciting qualifying sessions of the season, intensified by extremely high temperatures (35ºC ambient and 54ºC track) and constant changes at the top of the time sheets, Sete Gibernau managed to seal a valuable front row start in Qatar. The Telefónica MoviStar Honda MotoGP rider is sure of giving his best once again in what promises to be a physically and mentally tortuous race due to the heat and the dirt on the track. Any mistake tomorrow will be paid for dearly. Colin Edwards, perhaps the most consistent rider over the four practice sessions, had to make do with tenth place after making a mistake as he chased a fast time at the end of the session.
SETE GIBERNAU
(3rdº, 1’59”126): “There are two really striking things about this Grand Prix – firstly the heat and secondly the dirt on the track. This will require an extra effort from everybody, but apart from that I think this front row is important and we have done a good job alongside Michelin. After two tough GPs I am enjoying myself again on the bike again and, even though it will be a long, tough race, the rhythm we have should give us a chance of fighting for a good result”.
COLIN EDWARDS
(10th, 1’59”582): “We continued working on the set-up today and we found a good rhythm, but unfortunately in the second half of the session we lost a lot of time on my preferred bike and I had to go out on the other one. We weren’t able to make the most of the qualification tyres because I made a small mistake in the final corner and ran off track by half a metre, losing the front. It will be tough tomorrow because to overtake you have to run off the racing line and that is risky”.
FAUSTO GRESINI
(Team manager): “We have to be ready for a really tough race because of the high temperatures. What happened to Colin was a shame because he did a good job in qualifying without being able to get a time on the qualifying tyre at the end. Sete, on the other hand, will start from the front row and it will be important to get away well at this circuit”.
LAP TIMES
- Rubén Xaus (Esp/Ducati) 2’01”309
- Colin Edwards (USA/Honda) + 0”308
- Sete Gibernau (Esp/Honda) + 0”573
- Carlos Checa (Esp/Yamaha) + 1”435
- Max Biaggi (Ita/Honda) + 1”745
- Valentino Rossi (Ita/Yamaha) + 1”965