Marco Melandri clocked the third fastest time in the official qualifying practice for the French Grand Prix and will start from the front row of the grid for the third time this season.
Sete Gibernau missed out on the top three for the first time this year but is happy with a late charge to fourth place after suffering problems throughout the session.
Last year’s World Championship runner-up gave everything he had in a tense finale to the session, knocking two seconds off his lap time and making dramatic progress from thirteenth on the grid. Sete is confident of making the most out of the 20 minute warm-up as he looks to recover the good rhythm he quickly found in Friday’s free practice session.
Melandri once again found a good feeling with the Honda after being uncomfortable yesterday and spent the whole session at the top of the time sheets, improving his lap time and race pace and building high hopes of continuing an impressive start to the season that sees him lying second in the championship.
MARCO MELANDRI (3rd, 1’33”465): “I wasn’t expecting to do a lap time like this, after having started the weekend with a few problems. Today we were worried about the weather in the qualifying session and for that reason we put the qualifying tyres on early, which allowed me to set a 1’34”31. From there on we improved my race pace and I set my fastest lap at the end without taking too many risks. Tomorrow they’re predicting rain but I hope they’re wrong because it’s going to be a tough race”.
SETE GIBERNAU (4th, 1’33”467): “In the end I was able to put a good lap together and qualify fourth, but we’re suffering more than we should be. Luckily I’m in good physical shape at the moment and I was able to overcome the set-up problems with my riding, but we’ve got a long evening ahead of us analysing all the data with the team. Our race pace is slower than yesterday and we’ll have to have a look why. The 20 minute warm-up session will be vital to prepare for the race. We’re having a few problems with rear wheel traction”.
LAP TIMES
- Valentino Rossi (Ita/Yamaha) 1’33”226
- Colin Edwards (USA/Yamaha) 1’33”449
- Marco Melandri (Ita/Honda) 1’33”465
- Sete Gibernau (Esp/Honda) 1’33”467
- Nicky Hayden (USA/Honda) 1’33”514
- Shinya Nakano (Jap/Kawasaki) 1’33”536
- John Hopkins (USA/Suzuki) 1’33”594
- Max Biaggi (Ita/Honda) 1’33”699
- Carlos Checa (Esp/Ducati) 1’33”727
- Loris Capirossi (Ita/Ducati) 1’33”773