Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Combined MotoGP Qualifying Times
Arnette Africa’s Grand Prix
Welkom, South Africa

1. Sete Gibernau, Spain, Honda, 1:33.174
2. Valentino Rossi, Italy, Honda, 1:33.370
3. Max Biaggi, Italy, Honda, 1:33.386
4. Loris Capirossi, Italy, Ducati, 1:33.408
5. Shinya Nakano, Japan, Yamaha, 1:33.548
6. Tohru Ukawa, Japan, Honda, 1:33.586
7. Carlos Checa, Spain, Yamaha, 1:33.662
8. Colin Edwards, USA, Aprilia, 1:33.697
9. Troy Bayliss, Australia, Ducati, 1:33.756
10. Alex Barros, Brazil, Yamaha, 1:33.765
11. Nicky Hayden, USA, Honda, 1:33.838
12. Olivier Jacque, France, Yamaha, 1:33.917
13. Jeremy McWilliams, UK, Proton, 1:33.938
14. Norick Abe, Japan, Yamaha, 1:34.152
15. Nobuatsu Aoki, Japan, Proton, 1:34.269
16. John Hopkins, USA, Suzuki, 1:34.306
17. Kenny Roberts, USA, Suzuki, 1:34.646
18. Makoto Tamada, Japan, Honda, 1:34.670
19. Noriyuki Haga, Japan, Aprilia, 1:34.731
20. Andrew Pitt, Australia, Kawasaki, 1:35.128
21. Garry McCoy, Australia, Kawasaki, 1:35.566



Top Speeds:
1. Capirossi, Ducati, 274.5 kph
2. Rossi, Honda, 272.1 kph
3. Bayliss, Ducati, 271.7 kph
4. Ukawa, Honda, 270.9 kph
5. Hayden, Honda, 270.0 kph
6. Nakano, Yamaha, 269.1 kph
7. Biaggi, Honda, 269.1 kph
8. Gibernau, Honda, 266.8 kph
9. Tamada, Honda, 266.7 kph
10. Hopkins, Suzuki, 266.3 kph
11. McCoy, Kawasaki, 265.3 kph
12. Jacque, Yamaha, 264.4 kph
13. Checa, Yamaha, 264.4 kph
14. Edwards, Aprilia, 264.3 kph
15. Roberts, Suzuki, 263.4 kph
16. Abe, Yamaha, 263.4 kph
17. Barros, Yamaha, 263.0 kph
18. Haga, Aprilia, 261.9 kph
19. Pitt, Kawasaki, 260.4 kph
20. Aoki, Proton, 253.5 kph
21. McWilliams, Proton, 252.1 kph


More, from a press release issued by Fortuna Yamaha:

African’s Grand Prix
Saturday, 26 April 2003
Welkom, South Africa

FORTUNA YAMAHA TEAM MORE UPBEAT AFTER FINAL QUALIFYING

Fortuna Yamaha Team rider Carlos Checa put in a determined effort to improve his grid position for Sunday’s 28 lap race in what was one of the most competitive final qualifying sessions so far in MotoGP, for the Africa’s Grand Prix. In perfect conditions, and with a clean line around the 4242m circuit, virtually every rider in the 21 bike field improved on their Friday times – leaving only one second separating the top 15 riders, and 2.392 seconds separating the entire field.

Following on from the change in direction made yesterday to the suspension set-up of his Yamaha YZR-M1, Checa and his team improved the overall feel and balance of the machine even more today, resulting in a 1.144 second improvement to his Friday time. Consistently strong throughout the hour-long session, even while endurance testing tyres, the Spaniard eventually posted his fastest time, a 1:33.662, only on lap 27 to qualify seventh fastest overall.

Provisional pole sitter Valentino Rossi (Honda) was dislodged from the top of the time sheets when Sete Gibernau (Honda) produced a 1:33.174 in the final stages to clinch the number one position for the start of tomorrow’s main event. Rossi, with a 1:33.370, posted the second quickest time, followed by Max Biaggi (Honda, 1:33.386) and Loris Capirossi (Ducati, 1:33.408) – the latter crashing in the final few minutes of the session. Leaving fifth placed Shinya Nakano (d’Antin Yamaha Team, 1:33.548) to miss out on a front row start by a mere 0.14 seconds.

Checa’s mood was particularly upbeat at the close of the session, “I’m quite satisfied and I think we’ve improved a lot from yesterday, this morning and to now,” said the Spaniard. “At least now I am enjoying the riding much more – I can brake, I can open and flick in the right areas. This has been impossible for me for quite a while, even through this winter in testing and at Suzuka.”

Checa’s crew chief Antonio Jimenez and his team made adjustments to chassis and suspension balance on the YZR-M1 after yesterday’s first qualifying session, and it made all the difference. “We’ve gone back to closer to last year’s set-up,” explained Checa, “and with this new chassis balance I feel more comfortable. Now I have a clearer idea of what we must improve to go faster, even though we’re already close to the limit. I’m so close to the top guys so I’m sure the race will be difficult and this is not an easy circuit to pass at. But I feel quite confident to have a chance to win. I’m mostly happy because I was riding so rigidly before and now I don’t look like a plastic toy rider any more!”

After a somewhat sedate start to the Welkom MotoGP weekend, Fortuna Yamaha Team rider Norick Abe strung together a series of consistent laps that eventually placed him 14th on the timesheets. His time, a 1:34.152, saw him only 0.978 seconds shy of pole.

The Japanese rider and Melandri replacement was very pleased with his performance today, “We changed many settings since yesterday,” said Abe. “My chief mechanic Fiorenzo Fanali and my team worked very well to adjust the front geometry. I think this setting is very good for the race. The lap time I got today was my target, as I said yesterday – to improve by one second, and I got it! I never like qualifying, I like racing, so I think we are in a good position to make a good race tomorrow.”

Team Director Davide Brivio commented, “The team and riders have worked really well together to make improvements since yesterday. Carlos has found a much better feeling, he has taken a big step between yesterday morning and this afternoon. He will start from the second row, and has found a good pace. We can now look forward to tomorrow’s race. Norick has also improved a lot in the two days – tomorrow he can go for the race and enjoy it.”


FRONT ROW

1. Sete Gibernau (SPA) Telefonica Movistar HONDA 1:33.174

2. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Repsol HONDA 1:33.370

3. Max Biaggi (ITA) Camel Pramac Pons HONDA 1:33.386

4. Loris Capirossi (ITA) DUCATI Marlboro Team 1:33.408

7. CARLOS CHECA SPA Fortuna YAMAHA Team 1:34.662
14. NORICK ABE JPN Fortuna YAMAHA Team 1:34.152




More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

Africa’s GP, Welkom
Final Qualifying
Saturday, April 26 2003

DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM GRABS FIRST FRONT-ROW START

Ducati Marlboro Team rider Loris Capirossi stormed back from a late-session tumble in this afternoon’s final Welkom qualifier to grab the team’s first-ever front-row start. Team-mate Troy Bayliss was also gunning for a good grid slot until a minor error in his final run left him on row three, albeit less than sixth tenths off pole.

“We’re very happy with our first front row,” said Ducati Marlboro Team technical director Corrado Cecchinelli. “We’re also happy that we’ve made a big step forward since qualifying for our first MotoGP race at Suzuka three weeks ago. Loris rode a great session, and though he crashed his favourite bike, he still came back on his ‘number two’ machine to move onto the front row. Troy is ninth but very close to the front guys, and this is his first visit to this track.

“The race will be tough – the circuit and the hot weather make it hard for the tyres. The front-tyre wear rate is quite high here and the rear runs high temperatures, but we think we’ve found good race-tyre choices. Both riders did race simulations this morning, though they were cut short when the session was red-flagged.”

Capirossi and Bayliss are wearing black arm bands here in memory of fellow MotoGP rider Daijiro Kao who passed away last Saturday night, following his accident at the Japanese GP on April 6. They also have Kato’s number 74 on their fairing screens.

CAPIROSSI TAKES FOURTH AFTER TUMBLE

Loris Capirossi rode a remarkable session this afternoon. The Ducati Marlboro Team man was making a charge for pole position in the final ten minutes when he slid off his Desmosedici into turn two. Unfazed by the fall, he immediately rode back to the pits, collected his other bike and put in his fastest lap of the weekend, lifting himself from fifth to fourth quickest, just 0.234 seconds off pole.

“It’s important to be on the front row here, because it’s so difficult to pass, it’s not like Suzuka,” said the Italian, who started from row four in Japan but was second into the first turn. “We were focusing on some important tests for the race, rather than going for lap times. But don’t forget, we came here with no data for this circuit, and we’ve had just four hours track time, so anywhere on the front row has to be good! After the crash I took my second bike, which I don’t like quite so much, but I was able to go fast enough to get a front row. And my best lap would’ve been faster if I hadn’t had to pass another rider at the final hairpin.”

BAYLISS NINTH BUT CLOSE TO POLE

Ducati Marlboro Team rider Troy Bayliss ended yesterday’s opening qualifier on the provisional front row but slipped back to ninth fastest this afternoon, after a couple of minor errors in the crucial final stages. Nevertheless the hard-charging Aussie is looking forward to tomorrow’s race, which he expects to be particularly gruelling.

“That was quite good but we made a couple of tiny set-up changes towards the end and maybe we went the wrong way,” said Bayliss, just 0.582 seconds off pole. “Then I made a mistake out on the track on my final run, which I wasn’t so happy about. That leaves us on the third row, which isn’t great, but overall we’re not too bad and we’re heading the right way with the bike. It’s going to be a hard race – long and hot, and it’s difficult to pass here. Tyre-wise we’re feeling okay.”



More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service:

SUZUKIS SIDE BY SIDE IN WELKOM

Welkom, South Africa – Saturday, April 26, 2003

Team Suzuki riders John Hopkins and Kenny Roberts Jr. qualified side by side in the final time sheets for tomorrow’s Africa’s Grand Prix, placed 16th and 17th in an ultra-close list – Hopkins barely a second off pole time.

But the team-mates will start the race on different rows of the grid … Hopkins on the end of the fourth row, and Roberts leading the fifth.

The second of two days of qualifying at the 4.242km Phakisa Freeway circuit, held in blazing sunshine at the high-altitude South African circuit, saw all but one of the MotoGP riders cut their lap times compared with yesterday, with Hopkins taking almost three quarters of a second off his time, and Roberts some three tenths off his.

This was in spite of a puzzling electronic engine-mapping glitch that emerged during the afternoon – each rider had problems that spoiled their chances of moving higher up the grid – a matter of only a few tenths of a second would have gained them one or two rows. The 990cc GSV-R machines they are riding are still at a very early stage of development, and teething troubles – if not welcome – are to be expected.

The weekend has seen a change in the pit-box line-up. With Roberts’s race engineer Bob Toomey temporarily absent for personal reasons, his place has been taken for this race by software engineer and technical coordinator Alfred Willeke.

JOHN HOPKINS – 16th POSITION, 1:34.306
I had quite a good session this morning. We ran through a lot of settings, and dropped almost a second compared with yesterday afternoon. I did a lot of laps and ran race distance on my race tyre, so that was good. I wanted to continue in the afternoon, with a few more little things to try. At the beginning it went okay – I was getting behind people and doing laps. Then things started to go wrong. We made an adjustment that for the first time all day was wrong. Then we ran straight into an engine mapping problem, that I knew we couldn’t cure during the session. So at the end I came in for a new tyre, got behind Troy Bayliss, let him know I wasn’t going to go by, then followed him for a pretty hairball fast lap. I tried my best, and matched my morning time even with the problems. For the race I really want to get the best start possible, then stick in there … stay consistent, give 100 percent, and see what happens.

KENNY ROBERTS Jr – 17th POSITION, 1:34.646
I’m not really sure what kind of day we had, besides a strange one. For the race it’s a different story, as far as getting a start and trying to stay within my lap times. That really doesn’t depend on what we did today. Something happened with my first bike,with the engine mapping system running uncontrollably. So I went out on the other bike and that had a problem of the same sort. I don’t know how to explain it. The best thing is to ask the engineers who designed it, because something happens and the bike becomes somewhat unrideable. I’d backshift, and it would shut off, then come alive again. For the race, my level is not where it needs to be to make us competitive. I need for the engineers to fix the bike so I can ride it tomorrow. Other than that: congratulations to my ex-team-mate Sete, on pole in his first time here on a non-factory bike. That gives me hope.

SATURDAY OFFICIAL QUALIFYING TIMES WELKOM, SOUTH AFRICA

1. Sete Gibernau (Honda) 1:33.174
2. Valentino Rossi (Honda) +0.196
3. Max Biaggi (Honda) +0.212
4. Loris Capirossi (Ducati) +0.234
5. Shinya Nakano (Yamaha) +0.374
6. Tohru Ukawa (Honda) +0.412
7. Carlos Checa (Yamaha) +0.488
8. Colin Edwards (Aprilia) +0.523
9. Troy Bayliss (Ducati) +0.582
10. Alex Barros (Yamaha) +0.591
16. John Hopkins (Suzuki Grand Prix Team) +1.132
17. Kenny Roberts (Suzuki Grand Prix Team) +1.472


More, from a press release issued by Proton Team KR:

PROTON CHALLENGES FAST MEN AS V5 FIRES UP AT HOME

Round 2: Africa’s GP, Welkom
Final Qualifying: Saturday, April 26, 2003

Jeremy McWilliams: 13th, 1:33.938
Nobuatsu Aoki: 15th, 1:34.269

Proton Team KR rider Jeremy McWilliams gave his obsolescent 500cc two-stroke a stirring swansong in the final qualifying session at Welkom today, with a thrilling demonstration of sustained on-the-limit riding. The reward was sixth-fastest time, good enough for the second row of the grid.

The moment did not last, however. In a hectic end to a blazing hot qualifying session. McWilliams was pushed back to head the fourth row in a batch of times so close that tenths of a second made a big difference to position. At the finish, McWilliams was less than eight tenths slower than pole position, almost a second faster than the 4.242km circuit’s lap record, and better than two seconds faster than his qualifying time last year, on essentially the same motorcycle.

Team-mate Nobuatsu Aoki was no less impressive, singing the Bridgestone-tyred two-stroke round the track barely three tenths slower, so he will also start from the fourth row.

The Proton KR3s are the last 500cc two-strokes still racing in the MotoGP class, which last year allowed the new-generation 990cc four-stroke prototypes to join in. Team and riders are both hoping this will be the KR3’s last race, with the team’s own new V5 nearing completion in Britain, and the Spanish GP in two weeks time the target for the four-stroke’s debut.

While the race team was getting the best out of the old bike, team owner Kenny Roberts took the new V5 for its first rolling test, although heavy rain limited the number of runs. Both full-time riders will test the machine at Snetterton circuit in England on Thursday.

Today’s practice took place in hot and sunny conditions. Pole time was set by Sete Gibernau (Honda).

JEREMY McWILLIAMS
I’m feeling a bit frustrated. I thought that time would be good enough to keep me on the third row, but I was pushed off. The lap felt right past the limit, and it was more than I’d expected, so I didn’t do any more like that. Less than a second off is about as close as I got at most races last year, though we were better a couple of times. But when times are so close half-a-second makes a huge difference. I made a little mistake on my fast lap, and that probably cost a tenth or two. It doesn’t matter really, because the four-strokes just drive away from the start. I’ve been practising starts, but they are much faster off the line. But I’m happy with my consistency, and I ran lots of 1:34s. We’ll see how the race goes.

NOBUATSU AOKI
That was hard work. I seemed to get quicker lap by lap, but I stayed in the same position, because others were also improving. But I gave more than 100 percent so I am happy with that. This morning we carried on making the suspension softer, but in the afternoon the track gained some grip, and we made it harder again, which worked well. On a race tyre, I could run comfortable mid to high 1:34s. Then I put on a soft qualifying tyre and it didn’t work well, maybe because of the high temperature. But as long as I am happy with my race tyre, that’s okay.

CHUCK AKSLAND – Team Manager
Both riders did a tremendous job. We didn’t expect to be this close – Jeremy seven tenths off pole, and Nobu right there too. They just keep pushing the bike to the limit, and it’s great to see it. And it will be great to get the four-stroke going, and give them some more power.

Kenny rode the new bike yesterday at Bruntingthorpe airfield. It was raining and there were a few small problems, but he did some runs, and the engine is back on the dyno today. We’re shooting to have both riders test the bike on Thursday, and we’re planning to race it at Jerez.


More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing:

HONDA RACING INFORMATION

Grand Prix of South Africa at Phakisa Freeway
Final Qualifying, Saturday April 26

EMOTIONAL POLE FOR DETERMINED GIBERNAU

Under a cloudless South African sky in fierce heat and with track temperatures up to 36 degrees, Sete Gibernau (Telefonica Movistar Honda RC211V) was convinced he’d received supernatural speed from the spirit of his late team-mate Daijiro Kato. His masterly pole lap of 1m 33.174s was set on his final sprint around the 4.424km Phakisa Freeway as the rest of the pole position protagonists made their bids for the number one slot.

The newly resurfaced track provided more grip than in previous years, and the bumps that made the track so tricky had only been partially eradicated by the recent work. Conditions made qualifying hard work for both riders and machines and the sheer intensity of the final session made securing vital grid positions punishing work.

The narrow track provides few overtaking opportunities and it’s essential to get a good start here. With the top 14 riders covered by only one second, the fast starters who can capitalise on their hard work in qualifying should reap a substantial advantage in tomorrow’s 28 lap race. A race that promises to be a hard one at 1350m above sea-level.

“This has been a tough few days for everyone in the sport,” said Gibernau. “I rode the lap today but it was the push of everyone behind me that helped. I’d like to give this pole position to a great person (Kato) who gave us some great moments and I’d like to thank the fans, the media and everyone in the sport for the respect they’ve shown Kato. Our thoughts are still with his family.”

Valentino Rossi (Repsol Honda RC211V) still shrugging off the effects of flu managed to secure a vital front row start from second on the grid. He left it late to improve on his time from Friday, and he finished only 0.196 seconds shy of Gibernau’s pole time.

“I’m feeling a lot better now thanks to Doctor Costa and his team at the Clinica Mobile,” said the World Champion. “I’m not at 100% but certainly better than in the last few days. We’ve been working very hard for the best race set-up. Tomorrow will be very difficult for sure but it will be difficult for everyone. I tried hard to improve my time but Sete was faster than me and takes the pole. It is good like this with respect for Sete’s team-mate Kato.”

Third place on the grid went to Max Biaggi (Camel Pramac Pons RC211V) who’s team fine-tuned his RC211V’s low rev engine response to maximise drive out of the turns. The hot contender for tomorrow’s race knows the value of a front row start here and looks in good shape for the contest.

“For once I’m not too disappointed about missing out on pole,” said the Italian. “It’s gone to Sete and Fausto Gresini’s team and this has been the best way to remember Daijiro Kato. We fixed the technical problems we had yesterday and right from the first session in the morning the bike went perfectly. I wasted some time pitting in the session, but we had to work on the bike set-up. The race will certainly be hard because it’s very hot and the times are very close.”

Loris Capirossi (Ducati) grabbed the factory’s first ever MotoGP front row start despite crashing and remounting late in the session and Shinya Nakano (Yamaha) put his machine at the head of the second row as best qualifying Yamaha rider.

Tohru Ukawa (Camel Pramac Pons RC211V) lines up next to his Japanese countryman in seventh and he too recognises the value of the hard work put in to qualify well. Especially as he knocked himself about a bit in a fall in yesterday’s free practice.

“I have a good feeling on the bike,” said Ukawa. “I’m optimistic about the race because I’ve recovered from yesterday’s fall and also because the bike is going really well. It’s so important to make a good start because the track is difficult and overtaking is a complicated business here. We’ll work a bit more on the engine settings because the altitude means we don’t have full power. I don’t think the race will be run at pole-setting pace.”

Carlos Checa (Yamaha), Colin Edwards (Aprilia), Troy Bayliss (Ducati) and Alex Barros (Yamaha) complete the top ten while Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC211V) just missed out on a top ten qualification by only 0.073 seconds after posting a 1:33.838 lap.

“Things felt really good this morning,” said the Kentuckian. “I was really hoping to get into the 1:33, which I did, but then so did a lot of other guys. Man, that is the hardest I’ve ever ridden for 11th on the grid. Everyone is so close so it’s going to be a really tough race. I’ve got to figure out which tyres to use for the race and I’ll be trying to sweeten up my riding a little, especially in the final section which is so important for the whole lap time.”

Makoto Tamada (Pramac Honda RC211V) qualified 18th after slicing a second off his Friday best and he knows he faces an uphill struggle tomorrow after crashing without injury midway through today’s session. “The start won’t be easy tomorrow,” said the resolute Japanese. “We’ve found a great tyre combination and even though I’m starting way back on the grid I know I can maintain a competitive rhythm for the race.”

Randy de Puniet (Aprilia) grabbed pole by a tenth of a second from Manuel Poggiali in the 250cc category with Aprilia riders Franco Battaini and Fonsi Nieto completing the front row. Sebastian Porto (Telefonica Movistar Junior Team RS250RW) put his machine on the front of the second row as first Honda and is not too despondent.

HONDA TEAM QUOTES:

Sete Gibernau, Telefonica Movistar Honda, 1st: “First of all I want to thank the fans, the press, all the teams and everybody for the support they have given us. It fell to me to lead the tribute we all wish to offer Kato, and I think we are here thanks to the closeness and affection we are receiving. I also have to say that this is no coincidence – we had a good preseason and we continue to work hard. Tomorrow will be a tough race but I will continue to give my best and I hope Daijiro continues to give us his support, because today I felt that he was pushing me from above. Hopefully tomorrow I can honour him, his family and all those who have supported us.”

FAUSTO GRESINI, Team Manager
“Sete has been so brave today, he knew to stay focussed – a difficult thing in such a delicate situation. I have nothing to say, only that it is a nice feeling to enjoy this pole with the team.”

Valentino Rossi, Team Repsol Honda: 2nd: “I’m feeling a lot better now thanks to Dr Costa and his team at the Clinica Mobile. I’m not at 100% but certainly better than the last few days. We’ve been working very hard for the best race set-up. Tomorrow will be difficult for sure but it will be difficult for everyone. I tried hard to improve my time but Sete was faster than me and takes the pole position. It is good like this with respect for Sete’s team-mate Kato.”

Max Biaggi, Camel Pramac Pons Team: 3rd: “For once I am not too disappointed about missing out on pole position because it has gone to Sete and Fauto Gresini’steam and this has been the best way to remember Daijiro Kato. We fixed the technical problems we had yesterday and right from the first session in the morning the bike went perfectly. I wasted some time in the box, but we had to work on the bike set-up. The race will certainly be hard because it is very hot and the times are very close.”

Tohru Ukawa, Camel Pramac Pons Team: 6th: “I have a good feeling on the bike and I am optimistic ahead of the race because I have recovered from yesterday’s fall and also because the bike is going very well. It will be important to make a good start since the circuit is difficult and it is complicated to overtake. In the warm-up we must still work on the engine settings because the altitude means we still do not have full power. I do not think the race will run at pole-setting pace and I have no doubts about the bike’s settings.”

Sito Pons: “It is very competitive with 13 riders setting times in 1:33. We must wait and see each rider’s pace tomorrow in the race and I am convinced that both Max and Tohru have the rhythm to be at the front of the race alongside Gibernau, Rossi and Capirossi who will be their main rivals. I am satisfied because we have good grid positions and we have a great chance tomorrow to take victory.”

Nicky Hayden, Team Repsol Honda: 11th: “Things felt really good this morning and I was really hoping to get into the ‘33’s, which I did but so did a load of other guys. Man, that’s the hardest I’ve ever ridden for 11th on the grid! Everybody is so close it’s going to be a really tough race. I gotta figure out which tyres to use and pick a good set for the race. I’ll also be trying to sweeten up my riding a little, especially in the final section which is so important for the whole lap time.”



And now, qualifying times from 250cc and 125cc:

250cc Qualifying
1. Randy De Puniet, France, Aprilia, 1:36.247
2. Manual Poggiali, San Marino, Aprilia, 1:36.344
3. Franco Battaini, Italy, Aprilia, 1:36.523
4. Fonsi Nieto, Spain, Aprilia, 1:36.770
5. Sebastian Porto, Argentina, Honda, 1:37.063
6. Tony Elias, Spain, Aprilia, 1:37.231
7. Anthony West, Australia, Aprilia, 1:37.398
8. Roberto Rolfo, Italy, Honda, 1:37.426
9. Naoki Matsudo, Japan, Yamaha, 1:37.675
10. Hector Faubel, Spain, Aprilia, 1:37.822

125cc Qualifying
1. Youichi Ui, Japan, Aprilia, 1:40.834
2. Pablo Nieto, Spain, Aprilia, 1:40.908
3. Andrea Dovizioso, Italy, Honda, 1:41.449
4. Alex de Angelis, San Marino, 1:41.655
5. Stefano Perugini, Italy, Aprilia, 1:41.658
6. Steve Jenkner, Germany, Aprilia, 1:41.699
7. Daniel Pedrosa, Spain, Honda, 1:41.793
8. Mika Kallio, Finland, Honda, 1:41.813
9. Mirko Giansanti, Italy, Aprilia, 1:41.849
10. Gabor Talmacsi, Hungary, Aprilia, 1:41.973



Yet another press release, this one from John Hopkins’ publicist:

Hopkins qualifies 16th for Africa’s Moto Grand Prix

WELKOM, South Africa – On Saturday afternoon John Hopkins qualified his Suzuki GSV-R Grand Prix bike in 16th position for Sunday’s Africa’s Moto Grand Prix with a time of 1:34.306 on the 14 turn, 4.2 kilometer Phakisa Freeway circuit. While not totally pleased with where he ended up on the grid, Hopkins was positive about improvements made to his factory Suzuki.

“During this morning’s practice session we made a lot of adjustment to the bike,” Hopkins explained. “We did a full race distance during practice and really worked on finding a good race setup. Stuart (Shenton) wanted to work on some things and I would do about six or seven laps and then come in for adjustments.”

In qualifying Hopkins and his teammate Kenny Roberts, Jr. experience what they were told was engine mapping problems.

“I’m not totally sure what happened,” Hopkins admitted. “I’m sure the technicians will go back and take a look at it, but Kenny and I both had the same problem and it happened towards the end of the qualifying session.

“Late in session I got in behind (Troy) Bayliss and tried to stick with him. I had a couple of hairy moments, but I did the best I could. We made a big improvement over Friday’s times, so I’m happy about that.”

Hopkins now turns his attention to Sunday’s race.

“I’m going to try to get a good start and make up as many positions as I can before the first turn,” he said. “And hopefully I can hook up with a group and just do the best I can. I’m going to give it 100 percent.”

Hopkins finished 14th in last year’s race in South Africa.

For up-to-date info go to the web and check out www.hopperracing.com.