THE YOUTHFUL FORTUNA HONDA TEAM PREPARE FOR DEBUTS
The moment of truth has arrived for the young duo who make
up the FORTUNA HONDA team. Héctor Barberá, who
was runner-up in last season's 125 c.c. class, and Jorge Lorenzo,
fourth in the same category, must tomorrow demonstrate to
the world's fans all the preparation work they have put in
over the last few months in order to make the successful step
up to 250s.
The pair were unable to lower their times from yesterday's
first qualifying session, however, the aims which had been
set out for this first race of the year were indeed accomplished.
The minimal gaps separating the top riders in the championship
today mean that tomorrow should see a highly-charged race
fought out between a large pack.
Héctor Barberá will start from the second row
of the grid after setting a time 1.170 seconds off pole position
holder, Dani Pedrosa - also the reigning champion (1.42.868):
ìIt was hard for me to ride comfortably this afternoon.
I felt better yesterday. I'm sure this was down to the strong
winds which have battered the circuit all day though. It's
difficult to enter the corners at certain places around this
track, mostly because it is hard to feel the front end of
the bike. Although I was able to improve my time at the end
of the session, I am certain that in any other conditions
I would have been able to do even better. I can't wait for
the first race to start now!"
Jorge Lorenzo was not as pleased. In the final moments of
the session, Alex de Angelis set a time which put him into
fifth on the grid, and which relegated the Spaniard to the
third row, where he starts from ninth, 1.477 seconds behind
the day's best: ìThere was a lot of traffic ahead of
me when I decided to push a bit harder. If it hadn't have
been like that I feel that I wouldn't have had problems to
ride a 1.43Ö Feeling sorry about that doesn't help though.
Tomorrow I will try to do my level best. I'm sure it will
be a very exciting race."
On this second day of the Spanish Grand Prix, the FORTUNA
HONDA riders welcomed singer Nuria Fergó. The artiste
was promoting her third album , and was fascinated by the
atmosphere in the MotoGP World Championship. The team presented
her with a Lotus watch, and the Andalusian said she would
be delighted to visit again when the championship goes to
the Circuito de Catalunya for the sixth race of the year.
Héctor Barberá (Fortuna Honda),
7th: 1.44.038 (18 laps)
Jorge Lorenzo (Fortuna Honda), 9th: 1.44.345
(12 laps)
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