Qatari GP: LCR Honda qualifying report

DE PUNIET IS THE FASTEST HONDA RIDER AT QATAR GP QUALIFYING Losail, 10 April: the qualifying session at the opening round of 2010 season concluded at 23:55 local time with Stoner the quickest MotoGP rider under the floodlights of Losail ...

DE PUNIET IS THE FASTEST HONDA RIDER AT QATAR GP QUALIFYING

Losail, 10 April: the qualifying session at the opening round of 2010 season concluded at 23:55 local time with Stoner the quickest MotoGP rider under the floodlights of Losail International circuit. The 17 premier class riders, who will line up on the grid tomorrow at 23:00 local time for the first 22-lap round of the season, have experienced lower grip conditions in the 60-minute night session with air temperature of 26o. degrees.

After making further useful progress through the second free session (3rd position, 1'56.350), LCR Honda MotoGP rider Randy De Puniet produced a thrilling qualifying practice to record the fourth fastest time at the 5.380km track. The Frenchman aboard the RC212V circulated the "desert" circuit 46 times during the two sessions clocking his quickest lap time of 1'55.831 which is only 0.824s behind today's pole position. The fastest Honda rider will start from the second row behind Stoner, Rossi and Lorenzo.

De Puniet -- 4th -- 1'55.831

De Puniet: "Two months ago we had some issues with the new bike at Sepang test but we remained concentrated on our job and I was confident that my crew could give me a better bike. We have improved slowly and my feeling has increased a lot. Since the beginning of this week end we have worked in the right way making some long run on race tyres with an excellent pace. In the qualifying session we have tested our race map and at the end I have lapped on soft tyres gaining the second row. Honestly I was not expecting such a brilliant result but I am very happy and want to thank my crew. Tomorrow's start is really important if I want to close the gap to the front riders".