Aragon GP: Gresini Racing qualifying report

Marco Simoncelli missed out on a second row start by a little over a tenth of a second today with a late lap that saw the Team San Carlo Honda Gresini seal ninth place for tomorrow's race. Nevertheless, "Super Sic" starts from the third row confident that he can break into the top six in tomorrow's race. There was disappointment, meanwhile, for Marco Melandri as he again struggled to get a good feeling for his Honda RC212V. The Italian is hoping to make up positions in tomorrow's race.

Marco Simoncelli (9th 1' 50" 088 ) "I am pretty happy because I think we were quite strong today but to be completely honest I was hoping to be on the second row and we only missed it by just over a tenth. Anyway, things are going quite well and we'll see if we can use the information from today to make more improvements for the race. I spent most of the session riding along and I haven't got much of a reference from the other riders as to where I can improve. Maybe that will change in the race and I am confident I can finally finish in the top six."

Marco Melandri (14th 1' 50" 580) "It has been a very disappointing session. We tried changing the geometry on one of the bikes to try and improve it but as usual whenever we try to change something and push harder the situation is worse. We still have problems with the front on the soft tyre and we are not improving. Once again I have to start from the fifth row and all we can do is wait to see what kind of race it is tomorrow although I'm not expecting a great result."

Fausto Gresini "Simoncelli did really well to improve on his final lap and if he didn't lose a little time to his best effort through the final section he could have been on the second row. We have to take that little step forward in quality and it is not easy. After yesterday I was hoping for more from Melandri but things have got more and more difficult for him and he doesn't seem to able to get a feeling for this bike."

-source: gresini racing