Portuguese GP
COMPLICATED DAY FOR ELIAS AND XAUS.
Day two at the MotoGP Grand Prix of Portugal stood out due
to the large number of crashes through all three categories.
It was no different for the FORTUNA YAMAHA TEAM riders. The
rain was there or thereabouts at first thing in the morning
around the Portuguese track, which made grip levels drop during
the third free practice. In the overall timesheet for the
three practices Xaus was thirteenth fastest, 1.1 seconds off
the fastest rider at that time, and immediately ahead of his
FORTUNA YAMAHA TEAM colleague, Toni Elías. In the afternoon,
the sole qualifying session for the race saw conditions stabilise
somewhat, and the sun even made an appearance, albeit brief.
It did however help the riders find their settings for the
race tomorrow. Xaus will start from the fourth row, and Elías
from the fifth, after having finished the session 1.747 and
2.634 seconds down on the pole position time. The race will
be run earlier than normal; from the habitual 2.00pm to 1:00pm
local time, over 28 laps, and taking place after the 250 cc.
Ruben Xaus (11):
(Third free practice: 1.39.698, 13th - 24 laps.)
(Official qualifying: 1.38.949, 12th - 24 laps).
Things began badly for Ruben Xaus, who crashed out at Estoril
with only ten minutes gone in the official session, and with
his time the eighth quickest so far. Xaus returned to the
pits and took his second M-1 to continue his work with no
major incidents.
“In general, everybody has ridden at a seriously high
pace today. Somehow we are getting through some of the work
we should have done last week, but I think we are making up
for the time we lost. Personally I need to improve my rhythm
and ride a lot more smoothly in certain sections of the circuit.
Tomorrow’s race promises to be very interesting.”
Toni Elías (24):
(Third free practice: 1.41.292, 16th - 17 laps.)
(Official qualifying: 1.39.836, 15th - 21 laps.)
Like yesterday, Toni Elías crashed in the morning
free practice session, this time hurting his knee, which will
require medical attention before the race.
In the afternoon, the bad luck struck him once more, and the
positive steps made yesterday were cut short by two more crashes
in the official practice.
“It’s been a tough day. Everything went well
yesterday, but they took a turn for the worse today. I’m
keen to be up at the front and to do well, but this meant
I crashed when trying to follow Valentino, even though I don’t
feel completely right with the bike. This is just one of the
dues I have to pay in my learning process. I’m not disheartened
though, in fact very much the opposite: I’m eager to
get rid of my feelings at this moment in tomorrow’s
race.”
After seeing the physio, Elías ended his working day
relaxing with Isao Nakamura in FORTUNA YAMAHA hospitality.
Nakamura is the producer for the PlayStation 2 game “MotoGP
4”, with whom the Spaniard was discussing the latest
innovations in the new game.
Circuit: 4,182 m.
Race: 13.00 pm/28 laps.
Record: Valentino Rossi, 04’ (1.38.423)
Pole 2005: Alex Barros (1.37.202)
Pole 2004: Makoto Tamada (1.37.933)
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