British GP: Tech 3 qualifying report

Spies equals best qualifying result at cool Silverstone

Ben Spies equalled his best qualifying result of the 2010 MotoGP world championship at a blustery and cool Silverstone circuit this afternoon.

The Texan will start the first British MotoGP race to be staged at the iconic Silverstone track since 1986 from seventh position after a dramatic conclusion to today's qualifying session.

Spies posted a best time of 2.04.477 on his Monster Yamaha Tech 3 YZR-M1 machine to miss claiming a deserved second row start for the first time in his career by just 0.083s after he made a brilliant recovery from a heavy crash in this morning's final free practice session.

Spies aggravated the left ankle injury he picked up in a crash at the Le Mans last month when he lost control at the fast Farm Curve left-hander.

But the crash did little to dent the 25-year-old's confidence and at one stage it looked like his hard work and dogged determination would pay off as he occupied a top six place on the timesheets in the decisive final stages.

But looking to improve his time on his final flying lap, Spies lost precious time when Randy de Puniet suffered a high-speed crash right in front of him at Farm Curve. Spies' last lap though was still his fastest and he will head the third row of the grid in front of Marco Melandri and Marco Simoncelli.

Fellow American Colin Edwards had a difficult qualifying session, the 36-year-old unable to find a set-up that allowed him to push at his normal pace. Edwards will start from 10th on the grid having clocked a best time of 2.05.035 to finish just over half-a-second away from the top six.

Ben Spies 7th 2.04.477 -- 22 laps

"Qualifying wasn't too bad but I feel like it should have been a better outcome than what it was. I'm riding really hard and I was pretty close to being on the second row but I'd like the lap times to be coming a little bit easier. On the speed charts we're down a bit and that is making it difficult and if I don't get a good start it will make it hard to pass people. But I'm happy with my riding and the set-up of the bike and the lap times are consistent. I certainly tried as hard as I could and on the last lap I might have picked up another tenth to get on the second row but de Puniet crashed in front of me and that definitely cost me a small bit of time. My ankle is not too bad and shouldn't be a problem in the race. I was actually going to come into the pits because there had been a few crashes and I was only doing 70 per cent of my normal speed when I got caught out. It can happen but I'll be ready to give my maximum effort in the race."

Colin Edwards 10th 2.05.035 -- 21 laps

"That was really hard work and I just can't ride the bike to the level I know I can. I'm just not comfortable and to ride as hard as I had to just for tenth, I'm not happy. There are guys that I beat easily last year that I'm struggling to match at the moment and it certainly isn't through a lack of trying. It is hard not to get frustrated but I am doing my absolute best to improve and get some more speed out of the bike. But we're struggling for engine speed and I can't get a decent setting with the chassis. Tenth is not a position I'm happy to be in but I'll give it my all in the race tomorrow because everybody at Monster Yamaha Tech 3 is working hard to improve the situation."

-source: tech 3