GP of Spain: Team San Carlo Honda Gresini riders battle
through qualifying
 The
Grand Prix of Spain came to life today as grid positions were
decided in a thrilling qualifying shootout that saw Team San
Carlo Honda Gresini riders Shinya Nakano and Alex De Angelis
end up eleventh and fourteenth respectively.
Alex was quick from the start but suffered a crash shortly
before the end of the afternoon session. Shinya’s day
was relatively trouble free as he gradually improved his feeling
with the RC212V before obtaining a satisfactory starting position.
Alex de Angelis (14th 1.40.037): “I’m
really disappointed to have crashed on the last lap of qualifying.
I was improving on my best time and would have definitely
moved up the grid for a Grand Prix where the starting position
is really important. We have to study the data and find out
why the front is sliding, even though the general feeling
is good. We have to look at the cycle part and find out the
problem.”
Shinya Nakano (11th 1.39.559): “The
feeling with the bike improved a lot in qualifying and in
morning practice compared to yesterday and that allowed me
to push hard from the start. I’m satisfied because we
knew it was going to be tough to get on the third or fourth
row but with the fourth qualifying tyre I pushed hard and
managed to seal eleventh place. I know we’re still some
way off the front but I know I can at least run with the second
group and that’s my objective tomorrow.”
Official lap times:
1 Jorge LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team YAMAHA 1'38.189
2 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team HONDA 1'38.789
3 Colin EDWARDS USA Tech 3 Yamaha YAMAHA 1'38.954
4 Nicky HAYDEN USA Repsol Honda Team HONDA 1'39.061
5 Valentino ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team YAMAHA 1'39.064
6 Randy DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP HONDA 1'39.122
7 Casey STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team DUCATI 1'39.286
8 James TOSELAND GBR Tech 3 Yamaha YAMAHA 1'39.334
9 John HOPKINS USA Kawasaki Racing Team KAWASAKI 1'39.439
10 Loris CAPIROSSI ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP SUZUKI 1'39.484
11 Shinya NAKANO JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini HONDA 1'39.559
12 Chris VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP SUZUKI 1'39.704
13 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP HONDA 1'39.767
14 Alex DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini HONDA 1'40.037
15 Anthony WEST AUS Kawasaki Racing Team KAWASAKI 1'40.088
16 Toni ELIAS SPA Alice Team DUCATI 1'40.286
17 Sylvain GUINTOLI FRA Alice Team DUCATI 1'40.939
18 Marco MELANDRI ITA Ducati Marlboro Team DUCATI 1'41.027
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