The British Grand Prix, Donington Park
Qualifying, Saturday June 21 2008
REPSOL HONDA’S HAYDEN READY TO RACE PNEUMATIC-VALVE
RCV ENGINE
Repsol Honda riders Nicky Hayden and Dani Pedrosa today
qualified fourth and ninth fastest for tomorrow’s British
Grand Prix, round eight of this year’s MotoGP World
Championship.
Following yesterday’s two dry sessions, rain dominated
today. This morning’s practice outing was run in heavy
rain while this afternoon’s qualifying session was run
on a wet but drying track. Pedrosa and Hayden were second
and third fastest in the morning but found the damp conditions
more challenging. Hayden, using the pneumatic-valve RC212V
engine for the first time at a race, was once again impressive,
ending the day just a quarter of a second off the front row.
The American is very much looking forward to racing the pneumatic-valve
engine for the first time. Pedrosa could only manage a third-row
start, though the Spaniard is confident he can ride a good
race in the dry. Latest weather forecasts predict some overnight
rain but a dry race day.
Nicky Hayden, 4th fastest, 1m 39.270s
“I had hoped to be on the front row. Fourth here isn’t
so bad and we will be okay so long as we can get some stuff
sorted out for the race. If it’s wet tomorrow we’re
lucky it rained because we’re using a completely different
engine and today was the first time I rode it in the rain.
It took some adjusting to, just a few laps to get comfortable
on it. The engine is a little bit aggressive but I was able
to control it okay. We certainly need more time to understand
it some more but all in all it’s not too bad. We knew
this weekend we were going to be a little bit in the dark
because we don’t know what this bike is going to do
on tyres over race distance and we could’ve done with
some more time on fuel consumption. This morning things felt
good in the wet, but when things dried out this afternoon
we were struggling to go fast, that’s where we’ve
got to work with Michelin to improve. The track’s slippery,
but it’s cold too and that can make as much different
as the surface. The race will be fun nonetheless, see what
happens when that light goes out…”
Dani Pedrosa, 9th fastest, 1m 40.350s
“The race won’t be easy tomorrow because I’ve
got to start from the third row of the grid. This is a tight,
one-line racetrack where overtaking can be quite difficult.
But the main unknown is the weather. If it’s dry we
already have some fairly clear ideas about machine set-up
and tyre choice from yesterday’s two dry sessions. Today
the bike felt fine in the wet but some of the riders were
going very fast with an impressive rhythm. So we will wait
and see what the morning warm-up session brings. If I could
choose, I would much prefer a dry race. As far as my physical
condition goes, my back and hand are still hurting from yesterday’s
crash, though I do feel a bit better today.”
Kazuhiko Yamano - Team Manager
“This morning the rain was quite heavy and we had a
good result – Dani second fastest and Nicky third fastest.
But this afternoon the track conditions were more difficult,
especially towards the end of the session when the rain had
stopped. At least we have had practice in all conditions,
so we are ready whatever the weather on race day. Today was
very positive with Nicky and the pneumatic-valve engine, he
has been competitive in all four sessions and we have gained
lots of data. It will be tough for Dani starting from the
third row but we are confident he can get a good start and
he seems happy with his machine in all conditions.”
QUALIFYING PRACTICE
1. C. STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 1'38.232
2 V. ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team + 0.649
3 C. VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP + 0.786
4 N. HAYDEN USA Repsol Honda Team + 1.038
5 C. EDWARDS USA Tech 3 Yamaha + 1.369
6 A. DOVIZIOSO ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP + 1.551
7 A. WEST AUS Kawasaki Racing Team + 1.763
8 B. SPIES USA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP + 2.012
9 D. PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team + 2.118
10 S. NAKANO JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini + 2.185
11 J. HOPKINS USA Kawasaki Racing Team + 2.307
12 S. GUINTOLI FRA Alice Team + 2.363
13 A. DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini + 2.435
14 R. DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP + 2.878
15 M. MELANDRI ITA Ducati Marlboro Team + 3.147
16 J. TOSELAND GBR Tech 3 Yamaha + 3.519
17 J. LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team + 3.641
18 T. ELIAS SPA Alice Team + 4.701
DONINGTON PARK – THE TRACK
Constructed: 1931
Latest modification: 1985
Length: 4,023m
Width: 10m
Pole position: Left
Right corners: 7
Left corners: 4
Longest straight: 564m
Race: 30 laps
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