PRAMAC D’ANTIN MOTOGP
Grand Prix of China
Circuit of Shanghai, China (GMT+8)
Saturday 13 May 2006 – Qualifying Practice
PRAMAC D’ANTIN MOTOGP TEAM IMPROVES AT SHANGHAI
 After
the rain of the Friday, the PRAMAC D’ANTIN MOTOGP riders
had the possibility to ride with dry conditions today, even
if some rain ruined a part of the qualifying practice session.
ALEX HOFMANN is optimistic, there have been small improvements
with the DUNLOP tyres and the German rider knows he should
get the chance to begin having fun on track. He will start
from the 16th position on the grid, while JOSE LUIS CARDOSO
from the 19th. The Spanish rider was victim of a crash this
morning, fortunately without any consequences, but that didn’t
allow him to make many kilometres, as he only made 20 laps
during the whole day. A pity because the development of the
tyres demands a lot of work.
Tomorrow the race of the MotoGP class will start at 3 p.m.
in China (GMT+8) and the whole Team is obviously hoping for
dry conditions.
ALEX HOFMANN #66 (16th - 2’01.972):
“Today, during the qualifying practice, the time at
our disposal has been limited because of some rain, at half
session, that forced us to remain in the pits. However, we
managed to do a good job and we’re ready for the race.
I’m optimistic because we have found a good direction
to work on. Today, the qualifying tyre also worked better
than usual, and that’s a pity we had no time to use
the second one. Anyway, the development work we’re making
with the tyres is beginning to give some results, the race
tyres have shown a small improvement and we’re confident.
Tomorrow my aim is to make a good start, get a good position
from the first laps and keep it. I hope to give some good
satisfactions to my Team and all the sponsors that believe
in us”.
JOSE LUIS CARDOSO #30 (19th - 2’02.948):
“This morning, I rode for the first time on the dry
track of the Chinese circuit, we made some test with the tyres
but unfortunately I crashed after some laps. It happened as
I was in a change of direction but I didn’t really understand
the reason. Fortunately, I didn’t hurt myself too much
and I would like to thank the Clinica Mobile for their assistance,
they have been treating me very well. Then, during the qualifying
practice, I felt some pain but finally had the opportunity
to test some tyres. That’s a pity it rained at half
session because we needed to make more kilometres. Anyway,
I want to thank my Team, they really worked a lot yesterday,
and today as well”.
EMANUELE MARTINELLI - Track Engineer of Alex Hofmann:
“About the setting of the motorcycle, we found a good
base that now allows us to concentrate nearly completely on
the development of the tyres, and today, with dry conditions,
things went obviously better than yesterday on the wet track.
We had the possibility to test a new rear tyre and there have
been small improvements. Unfortunately, some rain at half
session made us lose some time but the whole Team has worked
in a very efficient way and we’re ready for the race”.
1. Daniel Pedrosa 1’59.009
2. John Hopkins 1’59.373
3. Colin Edwards 1’59.383
4. Shinya Nakano 1’59.570
5. Nicky Hayden 1’59.574
16. Alex Hofmann 2’01.972
19. Jose Luis Cardoso 2’02.948
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