MELANDRI NINTH AFTER DAY ONE IN BRNO, ELIAS 14TH
After the mid-season break, the MotoGP World Championship
roadshow got back underway in Brno with the Fortuna Honda
team preparing themselves for the 12th round of the season
at the Czech Republic GP.
After putting on a good display in the morning session (Melandri
third and Elias eighth), the Fortuna Honda riders continued
their efforts in the afternoon session.
Marco Melandri declared himself satisfied after securing
ninth position, but in truth the time did not reflect his
performance as a number of riders moved ahead of him on their
qualifying tyres. Elias, who arrived in the Czech Republic
in much-improved physical condition, had to settle for 14th
place.
MARCO MELANDRI ( 1'59"313, 9°): "I
am happy with this first day of qualifying, we did a lot of
work on the bike in the morning session on the weight distribution
which really improved it for this circuit. In the afternoon
we tried to work on my feeling with the bike and now we must
focus on our cornering. In the afternoon a lot of riders put
on qualifying tyres but we decided to follow the plan we had
set out."
TONI ELIAS (1'59"995, 14°): "This
morning we started well and I felt good on the bike. In the
afternoon the difference was that the majority of riders put
on qualifying tyres. I am satisfied as the mid-season break
gave me time to get back my fitness. Although the shoulder
still hurts a bit from the injury and I am not at 100 percent,
my overall fitness is much improved."
CLASSIFICATION - Free Practice nr 2
1. V.Rossi (Ita/Yamaha) 1'57.871
2. R.De Puniet (Fr/Kawasaki) 1'58.028
3. L.Capirossi (Ita/Ducati) 1'58.470
9 M.Melandri (Ita/honda) 1'59.313
14 T.Elias (Sp/honda) 1'59.995
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