DUCATI MARLBORO MEN RULE HOME GP QUALIFYING
Ducati Marlboro Team riders Sete Gibernau and Loris Capirossi
produced a stunning qualifying performance at Mugello this
afternoon to take first and second places on the grid for
tomorrow's Italian GP, during which they will run a special
livery to celebrate three important anniversaries for Ducati.
2006 is the 80th anniversary of the foundation of the Borgo
Panigale-based company, it is also the 60th year since Ducati
began motorcycle production and the 50th year since it first
used the desmodromic valve system, as used throughout its
world-renowned range of street and racing motorcycles.
The team's two riders dominated the entire qualifying session
to record their second one-two grid performance of the year,
though this time it was Gibernau who bettered Capirossi in
the final moments of the outing with the fastest-ever motorcycle
lap of the high-speed Mugello circuit, just 0.089 seconds
ahead of the Italian. At Jerez in March it was Capirossi who
pipped Spaniard Gibernau for pole!
SETE GIBERNAU, pole position, 1m 48.969s
"This is a very special moment. I know it's only qualifying
but I still count this as my first victory with Ducati. I
really needed something like this because it confirms that
Ducati and Bridgestone were the best choice for me. Also,
they believe in me and are giving me the best shot I've ever
had in this championship. I'd like to dedicate this pole to
everyone at Ducati, both here in the team and back at the
factory, because they always give it everything they've got.
Bridgestone are amazing too, because they're giving me incredible
support. Pole is important but maybe more important than that
is the way these guys work with me - they treat me better
than I've ever been treated before, so a big thanks to them."
LORIS CAPIROSSI, 2nd fastest, 1m 49.058s
"Today was interesting. We started this afternoon with
a race set-up and I did 12 laps at a good rhythm, including
one 49.8 lap. That's not bad and we'll be even better if tomorrow
is a bit warmer. Then I tried some new qualifying tyres that
I'd never tried before. The first of them was the best, so
I used another of that tyre for my last run but unfortunately
I came across some traffic and made a small mistake in the
T1 section. Anyway, we are more than okay. I hope tomorrow
will be a big day for us. A podium finish would make me happy,
we'll just have to see which step of the podium. Sete rode
really well today. I ‘stole' pole from him at Jerez,
so now he's got it back! It's great that Ducati has got pole
here. Tomorrow it will be very important to get a good start
and use full gas from the beginning, because when the tyres
begin to go off, whoever is in front should be able to maintain
their advantage."
FILIPPO PREZIOSI, Ducati Corse director
"I'm very happy and full of emotion! We gave both our
riders the bikes they deserve, and that makes us very proud.
We have a good race pace but a big fight with some very strong
riders awaits us tomorrow. The race will be a real battle
and we will be there..."
Temperatures: Ambient: 16 degrees. Track: 18 degrees
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