Fantastic front-row start for Hopkins and Rizla Suzuki MotoGP
 John
Hopkins roared to a fantastic second place during today’s
qualifying session for the Polini Grand Prix of China to give
Rizla Suzuki MotoGP its second front row start in consecutive
races.
The uncompromising riding style of Hopkins was demonstrated
as he went out for his final lap, trying so hard that he even
managed to touch his elbow on the track as he searched for
that extra time to put him at the front of the grid. Hopkins
and his team had worked successfully all day to find the correct
combination of Bridgestone tyres and bike set-up in today’s
dry conditions. He improved on his times consistently in both
sessions and was never outside the top 10. A stunningly quick
pit stop by his crew right at the end of qualifying enabled
him the extra time he needed to complete his final and fastest
lap with only seconds to spare.
Chris Vermeulen will start on the fourth row of the grid
in 12th place. He used today’s two sessions to their
full extent to get in valuable dry track time on the Shanghai
circuit. He too consistently brought down his times and is
looking forward to tomorrow’s race.
Today’s pole position was taken by reigning 250cc World
Champion Dani Pedrosa. Tomorrow’s 22-lap race is round
four of the 2006 MotoGP World Championship and the lights
will change to go at 15.00hrs local time (07.00hrs GMT).
John Hopkins:
“I can’t complain at that! I was a bit upset
afterwards as I thought I was going to get the pole position
that I want. I’ve been on the front row a few times
now but never pole! After the session we think we have found
a tyre that is going to work pretty good for us tomorrow.
The bike worked well today in the dry, but at the moment I
would have to say that it will be a bit easier for us if it
is wet. I owe my best lap to my crew, because an 18 second
pit-stop to change a tyre is pretty amazing. They did a great
job and it was because of them that I got the lap. I now just
want to get the best start possible and run at the front and
see where we go from there.”
Chris Vermeulen:
“Today was my first dry time on the track and it was
very different from in the wet. Everything was coming up a
lot quicker and I had to find my way around and learn the
track all over again. The guys are working really hard and
we’ve made a lot of changes to the bike this afternoon
- they all seemed to work pretty well. At the end I made a
little mistake in the last part of my fastest lap and I know
I would have been better placed if that hadn’t have
happened. Everything seems to be going well. Congratulations
must go to John as he did a really fast time and that has
got to be good for all of the team.”
Paul Denning – Team Manager:
“Another stunning qualifying effort by the whole team,
this time we are delighted to see John on the front row –
the first time since Motegi last year. I don’t think
he could have got a lot more out the GSV-R on that quick lap
and all you can ask is for the riders to go to the limit,
and John certainly did that today.
“Chris looked set for a better position but a small
mistake in the final sector cost him valuable time. However
it was still a great effort because this morning was the first
time he had ridden around this track in the dry.
“If it’s raining tomorrow I think both riders
will be fully competitive, but if it’s dry then there
is no question that it will be a bit harder for us, based
on the fact that we still need that bit more grunt to maintain
our lap time when tyre grip is reduced over a race distance.
Suzuki has worked extremely hard recently – and continues
to do so - and the team and riders have done everything they
can to make sure that we run as close to the front as possible.”
Polini Grand Prix of China Qualifying Practice Classification:
1. Dani Pedrosa (Honda) 1’59.009: 2. JOHN HOPKINS (RIZLA
SUZUKI MOTOGP) +0.364: 3. Colin Edwards (Yamaha) +0.374: 12.
CHRIS VERMEULEN (RIZLA SUZUKI MOTOGP) +1.295:
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