KONICA MINOLTA Honda Team experiences changeable weather
in Italy
The changeable weather conditions played havoc once more
with the timed sessions at the Italian GP today. Rain fell
before the MotoGP qualifying hour was due to start, only for
the sunshine to come out during the session and dry the 3.2
mile circuit. Then – with half of the session left and
just as the conditions were ready for dry tyres – the
heavens opened once more. After this five-minute shower, the
sun came out again and conditions improved slowly so that
some riders were able to improve their positions in the last
minutes of the session. Shinya will start the race from 12th
position, third highest Michelin runner and first of the satellite
Hondas. Similar weather is predicted for tomorrow.
Gianluca Montiron – Team Manager KONICA MINOLTA
Honda
“Today was a very exciting qualifying as the weather
was very changeable and it was not easy for the riders in
these conditions. Obviously we would have wanted a better
position, but then when it is half-wet and half-dry it is
very easy to crash! I think Shinya’s result has some
positive points for us as we are the third Michelin rider
behind Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa and we are the first
Honda satellite team. Conditions will be important tomorrow
as if it is dry no-one has had a lot of dry set-up time. We
need to discuss our team tactics tonight and have them in
place if the weather changes during the race itself. I think
Shinya’s feeling with the bike in wet and dry is coming
better and better and even if we get away in the middle group,
Mugello’s layout is such that it is easy to overtake
people.”
Shinya Nakano – Rider, KONICA MINOLTA Honda
(44 laps – 2’ 04.185”)
“Rain, sunshine, rain, sunshine! Very strange weather
today! I think if it had not rained in the middle of the qualifying
session the end would have been completely dry. When it rained
we came into the pits and waited for a while to see what the
weather was going to do. As it dried towards the end of the
timed session I tried a medium compound wet weather Michelin
and made my best lap with this tyre. The conditions do make
it difficult to choose the correct compound wet tyre, but
I do have a good feeling on a half-wet, half-dry track and
we did find a good dry tyre in the morning, so I’m confident
in both these conditions. The only conditions you don’t
want here are monsoon or full-wet conditions as it’s
a high-speed circuit and the rear will spin on these GP machines
even down the straight in the high gears!”
Giulio Bernardelle – Technical Director, KONICA
MINOLTA Honda
“Today was very busy for us thanks to the changing weather
conditions! With the weather changing every five minutes it
was difficult to decide when to make a timed attack. It’s
normal to use the softest tyre at the end of a session but
in these conditions this was not possible, so we used a medium
compound wet tyre which maybe was a good choice but Shinya
only had time for one lap on it. If we had three or four more
minutes I think we could have improved. We are satisfied that
the setting on the bike is coming better and the feeling is
pretty good in the wet. Also, in the morning we tested in
dry conditions and we have finalised our set-up and tyre choice
for a dry race, also. The weather is supposed to be worse
tomorrow than today but the situation will remain changeable.”
GP of Italy - Qualifying practice classification
1) Casey Stoner Ducati 2’ 00.359”
2) Chris Vermeulen Suzuki 2’ 01.381”
3) Valentino Rossi Yamaha 2’ 01.695”
4) Olivier Jacque Kawasaki 2’ 01.709”
5) Loris Capirossi Ducati 2’ 01.797”
12) Shinya Nakano Honda 2’ 04.185”
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