Sete Gibernau could not have planned a better start to the Italian Grand Prix, the Telefónica MoviStar Honda MotoGP rider setting the fastest time in the morning free practice session but saving his best for the afternoon, when he set a sensational time of 1’49”553 to seal provisional pole position. Sete, whose time was three seconds under the existing lap record at Mugello set by Tohru Ukawa in 2002, moved to the top of the time sheets on the seventh lap and improved his time by over a second some thirteen laps later to secure top spot. Colin Edwards, who is using a new front suspension fork after experiencing problems in Le Mans, was unable to find a comfortable setting at such a technical track and had to settle for eleventh place.
SETE GIBERNAU
(1st.- 1’49”553): “We have started with an incredible time but we can’t afford to relax. Not everything is in its place for the race although the time I have set is marvellous and it may give the impression that everything is perfect. I have to improve my rhythm and that is what I want to concentrate on tomorrow. I can’t deny that this is a fantastic start to the Grand Prix and that our plan is working – I wanted to play my cards well and set a good time today so that I can concentrate on my rhythm tomorrow. I am in a good run of form and a positive frame of mind, and that is allowing me to control each session.”
COLIN EDWARDS
(11th.- 1’51”758): “We had a few problems with the bike at Le Mans so we decided to change the front fork, the tyre… basically started from scratch. The Clermont Ferrand test went well and I was looking forward to coming here, but I’m still struggling to control the front end and get it to turn into the corners. I don’t have any references to work from but at least we know which way we have to go tomorrow and hopefully things should be better”.
FAUSTO GRESINI
(Team Manager): “Sete’s time is incredible – I didn’t think he could go that fast but he has been strong since the first session and he’s been a cut above the rest. His qualifying lap on the soft tyre was simply perfect and he is working well towards the race, which is the most important thing. It has been a fantastic day and we hope to keep going like this. The relationship between Michelin and Honda is very good and the results are there to see – the whole package has enabled us to take a major step forward. Colin isn’t comfortable, he hasn’t got clear references of this circuit and he wasn’t able to lap quickly – hopefully tomorrow will be a different story for him.”
LAP TIMES
- Sete Gibernau (Esp/Honda) 1’49”553
- Valentino Rossi (Ita/Yamaha) a 0”408
- Max Biaggi (Ita/Honda) a 1”224
- Marco Melandri (Ita/YYamaha) a 1”292
- Carlos Checa (Esp/Yamaha) a 1”401
……
11. Colin Edwards (USA/Honda) a 2”205