Czech GP: Gresini Racing qualifying report

DISAPPOINTING QUALIFYING AT BRNO FOR TEAM SAN CARLO HONDA GRESINI

Team San Carlo Honda Gresini's two riders were unable to secure good starting positions for tomorrow's Czech Republic Grand Prix, with Marco Simoncelli suffering another inopportune crash that compromised his programme for the afternoon session. A basic error after just a handful of laps left the Italian struggling for feeling throughout the remainder of the session and he could only qualify twelfth. Marco Melandri continued to work with his new electronics package as he works to find the optimum set-up of his RC212V but was unable to do so today, meaning both riders are looking for improvements ahead of tomorrow's race.

Marco Simoncelli (12th 1'58"169): "I am really annoyed! Once again we've started the session with a crash, this time after just three laps. Maybe the rear tyre was still a little too cold and I was unable to control it so I have to hold my hands up and say it was my mistake. Obviously this compromised the rest of the session so all we can do now is reflect on what happened and try to find the right solution to improve our setting in the warm-up tomorrow."

Marco Melandri (14th 1' 54" 430): " It was a really tough session for us. We changed a lot of things again because we are clearly struggling with the electronics. We haven't managed to find a good balance under braking with the engine brake system so I am very slow in corner entry. We still have faith that Honda can help us finally find the right electronic setting for the RC212V."

Fausto Gresini: "Naturally I can't say I'm happy with today. We certainly didn't want to see Simoncelli crash again so early in the session -- it's his second of the weekend and added to the one from Laguna Seca he's at risk of losing confidence and feeling for the bike, which won't help him improve his performance. It is a shame because it is important for us to continue with our recent progress and this is a setback. This is racing though and we can't get too down about it. We're trying to give as much support as we can to Melandri because so far with the new electronics we haven't been able to give him a bike he likes. Unfortunately the settings that are working for other riders don't seem to suit him and that makes it difficult to move the job forward."

-source: gresini racing