Valencia qualifying practice
FRONT ROW FOR FORTUNA HONDA PAIR
The FORTUNA HONDA team riders will both start the final Grand
Prix of the season tomorrow from the front row of the grid,
an important statistic at a circuit where it is particularly
difficult to overtake. HECTOR BARBERA and JORGE LORENZO were
the main protagonists of the morning free practice session
for this seventeenth Grand Prix of the season, occupying top
positions throughout before ending in third and fourth place
respectively. In the afternoon, the two FORTUNA HONDA riders
brought excitement to their fans, who had turned out in their
thousands for this second day at Cheste, including legendary
NBA basketball star Michael “Air” Jordan. Barberá,
one of nine Valencian riders competing in his home race, demonstrated
extra determination on his way to second place in the official
qualifying session, just two tenths of a second off pole.
The youngster from Dos Aguas held provisional pole until the
final second when he was pipped by Dani Pedrosa, although
second place is his best grid place of the season and has
raised his hopes for tomorrow´s race. Lorenzo, meanwhile,
was not too satisfied with fourth place after lapping six
tenths off the best time of the day. However, the Majorcan,
who set a good pace on the times he will use tomorrow, will
start from the front row and is still one of the favourites
for victory tomorrow.
HECTOR BARBERA (80):
Free Practice-2: 3.- 1.36.095 + 0.233 (26/28 laps)
Qualifying Practice-2: 2.- 1.35.530 + 0.232 (22/23 laps)
“Racing at home is always a special motivation, but
I have also improved over the last two races. Valencia is
a circuit that I like a lot, all my fans are here and you
can tell the difference. Tomorrow we could get the result
I have been fighting for all season. We have been working
well since Australia and the final date of the season could
be one to remember, at least for me.”
JORGE LORENZO (48):
Free Practice-2: 4.- 1.36.355 + 0.493 (10/28 laps)
Qualifying Practice-2: 4.- 1.35.942 + 0.644 (18/20 laps)
“it was not a good situation for me, because I have
not been able to lap really fast throughout the day because
I didn’t feel comfortable on the bike at any point.
The most positive thing is that this is the last race of the
year so we will wait and see what happens. In the last few
races, I have been a bit unlucky but things change quickly
and I am sure we will start next season with a good run.“
BEST TIME OF THE DAY: D.Pedrosa (1.35.298)
|
