Portuguese GP: Gresini Racing qualifying report

DE ANGELIS AND ELIAS PROMISE ESTORIL FIGHTBACK

San Carlo Honda Gresini riders Alex de Angelis and Toni Elias are confident they can battle through the MotoGP pack as the racing season resumes at Estoril tomorrow, despite having qualified in a disappointing eleventh and thirteenth place respectively.

Having virtually recovered from the head cold that affected his performance yesterday, De Angelis was ninth quickest this morning but encountered set-up difficulties in the afternoon. Elias had lapped eighth fastest this morning and looked certain to battle for a place on the second row with his pace on race tyres in the afternoon. However, his challenge was thwarted when he ran into traffic after fitting a softer tyre for a flying lap at the end of the session.

Alex De Angelis (11th; 1'37.822): "Physically I feel a bit better today but we've been struggling with the bike. I wasn't able to keep it close to the apex in the tight corners, it was running wide everywhere, but we made a change at the end that helped a lot. It brought us back into contention and if we'd have had more time to build on it and make another step we could have been much higher up the order. Anyway, I'm happy that we're working in the right direction -- now it's a case of waiting to see what the conditions are tomorrow, talking things through with Bridgestone and making the right tyre choice. "

Toni Elias (13th 1'37.911): "I'm quite pleased with my race pace and I think we've done a good job. We were in bad shape yesterday but like at a lot of other races where we have had bad Fridays we were able to turn the situation around on the Saturday. I was up there in fifth or sixth, occasionally up to fourth, and I think that is the kind of position we should be in. Unfortunately things didn't work out on the softer tyre. Just when I was putting together a fast lap I ran into Toseland and Dovizioso in the middle of the track and I was blocked off. It's a shame to be starting from thirteenth but that's the way it is and now we have to fight back -- just like I did at Assen and Sachsenring."

Fausto Gresini - Team Manager: "We haven't been able to fulfil our potential so far at this circuit for one reason or another. We've been struggling in a variety of areas but other than the first few riders the pack is tight and there is the opportunity to make up a lot of ground if we can just make a small step in the morning. Obviously it's not going to be an easy race for us or anybody but we'll keep working with our riders to put them in the best possible shape for the battle ahead."

-credit: gresini racing