MotoGP : Camel Yamaha pair to launch French assault from
row three
Round: 5 - 2006 MotoGP Le Mans
Circuit: LeMans
Date: 20 May 2006
Temp: 18ºC
Weather: Dry
Camel Yamaha Team riders Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards
will start from the third row of the grid in the Grand Prix
of France tomorrow after setting the seventh and ninth fastest
times respectively in this afternoon's qualifying practice.
The session took place in dry conditions with ambient temperatures
reaching 18ºC after the sunshine finally overpowered
the thick black clouds that hovered over the Le Mans circuit
and caused the third free practice session to be held in wet
conditions during the morning.
The improved weather allowed Valentino Rossi to continue
the evaluation of Yamaha's latest chassis, with both of his
YZR-M1 machines fitted with the updated specification following
positive initial results yesterday. Edwards continued working
on the standard version, with similar updates planned for
the American at the next round in Italy, and again lapped
consistently as one of the fastest riders throughout the session.
After setting the pace in yesterday's dry free practice sessions,
both Rossi and Edwards have found a good race set-up for their
machines but they were unable to turn their pace into a top
grid position after struggling to use their qualifying tyres
to full potential in the late push for times.
Valentino Rossi (7th; 1'34.840, 28 laps)
"Today I am happy because we worked in the right way
and found a good race setting for the bike. When we used the
very soft tyre at the end of the session we again found some
vibration problems caused by the extra grip but it's not such
a problem on the race tyres. Anyway, looking at the qualifying
results from the last few rounds the third row is an improvement
and I think there is the possibility of a good result tomorrow.
Myself and Colin have been at the top through all the practice
on race tyres so we know we have a good pace compared to the
other riders. To be honest I expected a better position this
afternoon so I am a little disappointed but it is not a disaster.
Now we wait to see what the weather does tomorrow, hope for
a dry race and then try to turn around our recent bad luck
in the race."
Colin Edwards (9th; 1'34.970, 28 laps)
"The track was a little slippery today, I guess after
the rain this morning, and I didn't have the same level of
grip on the front tyre. I wasn't as comfortable but we did
a good job on the race tyres and my pace is decent. I think
there's only three of us lapping in the 1'35s on race tyres
so we've got every chance to do something in the race - it's
just a shame about the chatter on the qualifying tyres because
we could have been much further forward on the grid. I did
four or five laps trying to break the 1'35 mark and eventually
hit 1'34.9 on the last one but there was no way to go any
faster. All things considered the third row isn't bad - there
are a few guys who will go backwards tomorrow and a few others
who will be tough to get past but, as I said before, we have
the pace. Now it's a case of holding that throttle open longer
than anyone else into turn one and seeing where we can get
from there."
Davide Brivio - Camel Yamaha Team Director
"Unfortunately we missed out a little on the qualifying
tyres because we couldn't use them properly but we're not
too worried. On the whole the two days of practice have been
very good for both riders and they both have good race pace.
The only concern now is that they both have a good start in
the race. We were able to set-up the new chassis for Valentino
but also the older bike is working very well for Colin. Tomorrow
is a good opportunity to get more information and confirm
our direction with development but of course we also need
points. Our aim for tomorrow is to close the gap between us
and the championship leaders."
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