report

[gypsy]

Valentino Rossi showed that he has lost none of his sharpness over the summer break as he clocked the fastest time on the first day of action at the Gauloises Grand Prix Ceske republiky today. Rossi?s time of 1?59.278 on the very final lap of this afternoon?s second free practice at Brno ousted Loris Capirossi from the top of the time sheets by just 0.088 seconds and spoiled an otherwise perfect day for the Ducati rider, who had set the quickest time during the morning session as Rossi suffered his second crash in as many meetings.

?Today was a strange day because we all came back from the holidays and it felt like everybody was still in the beach rhythm!? said Rossi, who holds the pole record at this circuit with a time of 1?58.769 set two years ago. ?The crash this morning was not the perfect way to start. Troy was pushing hard but he suddenly decided to come in to the pit and braked in the middle of the last corner. I was lucky because my front brake made contact and I went down at 149km/h but I am not hurt. Tomorrow we need to work on the suspension to find more grip but so far I am quite happy.?

Last year?s winner Sete Gibernau was third fastest today as he begins his quest to record his first victory of the season. The Spaniard also has one eye on second place in the championship as he currently lies in third place, just one point behind his Honda team-mate Marco Melandri. The Italian youngster, who has won three times at this track in the smaller Grand Prix classes, was fourth fastest today ahead of Suzuki rider Kenny Roberts and Ducati?s Carlos Checa. Nicky Hayden was seventh fastest whilst Colin Edwards was the only rider that failed to improve from the morning to the afternoon session as he slipped to eighth. Alex Barros, the lap record holder, completes the theoretical front three rows in ninth place ahead of tomorrow?s definitive qualifying session.

Veteran rider Jeremy McWilliams made an impressive return to MotoGP action with Proton Team KR today, lapping just 3.611 seconds slower than Rossi on the 2004 version machine he rode last season. The team have rolled out their V5 motor for the first time this year after Austrian engine suppliers KTM decided to end their involvement in the joint MotoGP project last week.

 

[gypsy]

qualifying result

Sete Gibernau pulverised the pole position record at the Brno circuit to secure the front slot on the grid for Sunday?s eleventh round of the MotoGP World Championship in front of a packed crowd in the Czech Republic today. After finishing second to Valentino Rossi in the series for the past two seasons Gibernau has yet to win a race this season but his performance in hot and sunny conditions this afternoon suggested that he may be ready to repeat his victory at this track from one year ago and final ignite a stuttering campaign. The Spaniard lapped 1.265 seconds inside Rossi?s previous pole record, clocking a best a time of 1?57.504 to hold off late challenges from his Yamaha rival, as well as Honda rider Nicky Hayden and Ducati?s Loris Capirossi.

?That was a difficult day but I think we?re doing a good job in the team and with Michelin,? said Gibernau. ?Here at Brno the races are always very long and it?s difficult to get away - there are always a lot of people at the front of the race. There are lots of places to pass and overtake, many things can happen on the last lap, in last corner, and we?ll have to watch for that. Loris and Nicky are very fast so it will be close.?

Rossi?s final effort fell 0.371 seconds short of Gibernau?s benchmark time and wasn?t even good enough for a front row position as Hayden and Capirossi took second and third place respectively. The series leader will start from the second row of the grid in fourth as he aims to pick up the first of just two more victories that would guarantee the title for the fifth successive season. Capirossi again made a flying start to the day, clocking the fastest time in the morning free practice as he had done yesterday before challenging for top spot throughout the afternoon. Hayden, meanwhile, continued a run of excellent qualifying form that had seen him take pole position for two of the previous three rounds.

Marco Melandri will aim to hold off Gibernau for second place in the championship from the second row of the grid. The Italian youngster lies just one point ahead of his Honda team-mate, 120 points adrift of Rossi in the current standings, and he will aim to defend that position from fifth place at a circuit where he has already celebrated victory on three occasions in the minor categories. Carlos Checa qualified sixth fastest to seal the final spot on the second row and complete an encouraging day for Ducati.

Lap record holder Alex Barros will launch his charge from the third row of the grid after qualifying seventh fastest ahead of American riders John Hopkins and Colin Edwards. Behind them, Max Biaggi and Shinya Nakano complete a list of eleven riders to have lapped within a single second of Gibernau?s pole time, ensuring close racing all the way through the order tomorrow. Jeremy McWilliams will make his first MotoGP appearance of the season for Proton Team KR after qualifying in 22nd place despite only completing three laps in this afternoon?s session before suffering from technical problems.