Round 5, Monza, Italy
Friday qualifying, 9th May
Circuit: 5.793 kms. Conditions: Dry, mostly sunny 22-26C.
 MAX
STORMS TO PROVISIONAL POLE!
Team Alstare Suzuki rider Max Neukirchner was in sensational
form today, posting the day’s fastest lap in this afternoon’s
qualifying session at Monza. The young German blitzed the
5.793 kilometre circuit in 1:45.990, breaking the lap record
in the process. Over three tenths of a second behind is series
leader Troy Bayliss (Ducati) with Suzuki Alstare rider Yukio
Kagayama third. Completing the provisional front row is Japanese
rider Makoto Tamada (Kawasaki). It was not such a good day
for Suzuki Alstare rider Fonsi Nieto. He crashed in the qualifying
session, fortunately without injury, and lost time when most
of the riders were setting their quick lap times. Fonsi ended
eleventh and he and the team know that a lot of good work
will have to be done tomorrow to get a good grid position.
Max - 1st, 1:45.990
I’m happy with how things worked out today and happy
because I think we have a pretty good bike set-up. We’ll
make some small adjustments tomorrow to see if we can improve
the bike, but it will not be anything major. Tomorrow we’ll
do some work on the electronics and maybe the engine-braking
to try and get the best possible set-up for raceday. I want
to say thank you to Yukio for helping me do my fast lap today.
At Monza you need help if you want to set a really good time
and Yukio was great.
Yukio - 3rd, 1:46.371
My feeling today is good. We started the day with the settings
from Assen and they worked pretty well really. I had some
small problems braking, but that was because of front fork
settings, not the brakes themselves. The team made some changes
and the bike improved. Towards the end of this afternoon’s
qualifying, I was using hard tyre - for a test - but I’m
sure I could’ve gone faster if I had used a softer tyre.
Maybe I could’ve been second or even first! Although
slipstreaming is very important here, I would prefer to be
on my own because then I can push much harder. I think Monza
might be good for us and that is what I am hoping for.
Fonsi - 11th, 1:46.990
I am not so happy today because I had a small crash, lost
some time in the qualifying session and that meant I missed
the chance to go for a quick lap time. The crash happened
at the Parabolica when I went into the gravel. The tyre wall
was approaching, so I had no choice but to lay the bike down.
Luckily I didn’t hurt myself or do any further damage
to my left knee. It is a bit sore when I’m on the bike,
but it will not affect me in the race.
Friday qualifying
1 Max Neukirchner (D-Alstare Suzuki) 1:45.990, 2 Bayliss (Aus-Ducati)
1:46.359, 3 Yukio Kagayama (J-Suzuki Alstare) 1:46.371, 4
Tamada (J-Kawasaki) 1:46.404, 5 Smrz (CZ-Ducati) 1:46.604,
6 Muggeridge (Aus-Honda) 1:46.750, 11 Fonsi Nieto (E-Suzuki
Alstare) 1:46.990,
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