STONER ON ROW TWO & SUPER QUICK IN RACE TRIM, CAPIROSSI
ALSO HAPPY WITH HIS RACE PACE
Ducati Marlboro Team riders Casey Stoner and Loris Capirossi
qualified fifth and 13th quickest at Donington Park this afternoon.
Both today's sessions were run in cloudy but dry conditions
after yesterday's deluge, allowing riders to work on dry set-up
for the first time this weekend.
World Championship leader Stoner showed superb race pace
throughout the day but was out of luck on his crucial final
qualifying run. The Australian was on course for a front row
start until a moment at the final hairpin. Capirossi, using
Bridgestone's new 16 inch rear slick, was also confident of
moving up the order but got the chequered flag as he started
what he hoped would be his best lap. Nonetheless the Italian
is happy enough because he also showed good speed in race
trim. Tomorrow's weather forecast predicts further rain with
sunny intervals.
CASEY STONER, 5th fastest, 1m 29.061s
"On race tyres we're pretty well safe and looking pretty
good, and we should be able to make a couple more improvements
before the race if we get a dry warm-up session. Qualifying
was unbelievably disappointing, the electronics were playing
up, every time the tyre would spin just a little bit the engine
cuts would start, so I couldn't get on the gas and I was losing
tenths on the exit of every corner. So I decided to do two
laps on that qualifying tyre and the second lap wasn't too
bad because I had learned how to ride around the cuts. Then
going into the last turn the bike hit neutral, so I had no
engine braking, so I was entering the corner too quick. I
got it back into first but unfortunately I just had to push
it in there too hard to try and make the corner and nearly
lost it, but I've got a pretty good feeling with the tyres
because the Bridgestones actually give me feeling so it's
a little bit easier to save. We tried the 16 inch rear this
morning but we're going to stick with what I know and just
make sure I make everything right. We have got a good race
pace so we've got to look at that now since qualifying was
kind of a disappointment. It doesn't really matter if the
race is wet or dry because we're also pretty quick in the
wet but it would probably be a lot safer having a dry race.
One or the other, wet or dry, is okay, we'd just rather it
wasn't something in between."
LORIS CAPIROSSI, 13th fastest, 1m 29.900s
"When I saw Casey had done two laps with a qualifying
tyre I decided to do the same. But on the first lap I almost
lost the bike twice, so I slowed down a little, then when
I crossed the line I got the chequered flag, so I missed the
chance to do another lap. Anyway, I'm quite happy because
my race rhythm isn't so bad. Today I made a different choice
to Casey - I used the new 16 inch rear, which seems to give
me better traction. I did 27 laps with the tyre and it performed
well throughout, so I think I'll use it in the race, weather
permitting, because the forecast isn't good. Today we understood
a lot on bike set-up, we changed the engine settings slightly
and all the changes we've made have given me a better feeling
with the bike, both in the wet and the dry. That makes me
confident, even if qualifying didn't go so well."
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