Submitted by David Emmett on
Result and summary of MotoGP qualifying practice at Assen:
Valentino Rossi will start the 79th running of the Dutch TT at Assen from pole on Saturday, after setting a mark with 2 minutes of the session left. Rossi had swapped provisional pole with Casey Stoner several times, before Valentino Rossi struck in the last couple of minutes. Dani Pedrosa took advantage of Rossi's quick pace, following the Italian around to take 2nd place. Jorge Lorenzo took the final spot on the front row, the Spaniard very fast in the first three sectors of the track, but losing out in the final blistering section through Meeuwenmeer, Hoge Heide, Ramshoek and the final chicane.
Casey Stoner finished 4th, and was irate coming into the pits, the Australian gesturing at the Suzuki pits next to him, after he felt he'd found Sete Gibernau sitting on the racing line at the fastest part of the track, waiting to follow him round. He later complained that this was becoming increasingly common, and that Race Direction never seem to do anything about it.
Pos | No. | Rider | Bike | Time | Diff | Diff Previous |
1 | 46 | Valentino ROSSI | YAMAHA | 1'36.025 | ||
2 | 3 | Dani PEDROSA | HONDA | 1'36.110 | 0.085 | 0.085 |
3 | 99 | Jorge LORENZO | YAMAHA | 1'36.393 | 0.368 | 0.283 |
4 | 27 | Casey STONER | DUCATI | 1'36.633 | 0.608 | 0.240 |
5 | 5 | Colin EDWARDS | YAMAHA | 1'36.760 | 0.735 | 0.127 |
6 | 65 | Loris CAPIROSSI | SUZUKI | 1'36.953 | 0.928 | 0.193 |
7 | 7 | Chris VERMEULEN | SUZUKI | 1'37.194 | 1.169 | 0.241 |
8 | 4 | Andrea DOVIZIOSO | HONDA | 1'37.237 | 1.212 | 0.043 |
9 | 52 | James TOSELAND | YAMAHA | 1'37.323 | 1.298 | 0.086 |
10 | 14 | Randy DE PUNIET | HONDA | 1'37.473 | 1.448 | 0.150 |
11 | 15 | Alex DE ANGELIS | HONDA | 1'37.637 | 1.612 | 0.164 |
12 | 36 | Mika KALLIO | DUCATI | 1'37.749 | 1.724 | 0.112 |
13 | 69 | Nicky HAYDEN | DUCATI | 1'37.759 | 1.734 | 0.010 |
14 | 33 | Marco MELANDRI | KAWASAKI | 1'37.948 | 1.923 | 0.189 |
15 | 24 | Toni ELIAS | HONDA | 1'38.136 | 2.111 | 0.188 |
16 | 59 | Sete GIBERNAU | DUCATI | 1'38.453 | 2.428 | 0.317 |
17 | 88 | Niccolo CANEPA | DUCATI | 1'38.605 | 2.580 | 0.152 |
18 | 72 | Yuki TAKAHASHI | HONDA | 1'38.619 | 2.594 | 0.014 |
19 | 41 | Gabor TALMACSI | HONDA | 1'39.407 | 3.382 | 0.788 |
Comments
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Granted, I don't know what happened between Stoner and Capirossi but Stoner seems like an entitled child lately.
Gabor
I know Talmacsi brings sponsorship and I know that he has talent, but it has got to be disheartening to always be in last place - practice, qualifying, and race.
Actually, the press releases
Actually, the press releases are quite upbeat. Talmacsi is focusing on his own times, and as long as he sees them getting better, he's happy. And he's such a long way behind the rest in terms of pure time on the bike that that's what he's got to focus on.
harumph
I believe Stoner was referring to Sete rolling around like a wounded duck. Really he needs it hang up. As for the child reference, well he's a pretty talented child co-leading the series, 1-2 seconds quicker than anyone for the last 2-3 years on the same steed. Maybe he would be 1-2 seconds ahead of Val on yamaha. Not bad for a "Child". Get off the guys back and enjoy the amazing skills and challenges of the top 4 guys.