Qatari GP: LCR Honda

DE PUNIET BRILLIANT SIXTH AT QATAR GP

Losail, 11 April: LCR Honda MotoGP racer Randy De Puniet finished in 6th position the Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar at Losail floodlit track. With a track temperature of 26o.C the premier class riders got underway the first GP of the 2010 season at 23:00 local time and Rossi gained his first seasonal victory at the 5.380Km track with Lorenzo and Dovizioso completing the podium.

De Puniet has been making steady progress in every session this week end showing a good pace on race trim. The 29-year-old experienced a good start from the second row following on from an impressive practice session yesterday when the Frenchman aboard the RC212V qualified 4th fastest. At the end of the first lap De Puniet held the 9th place but started to set impressive lap times ending the race as the second Honda rider behind Dovizioso.

De Puniet -- 6th

De Puniet: "All the week end I was up there and I am very satisfied about this result. My start was not that bad but with a bit of traffic I have got a little bit pushed out in the first corner. After that I lapped a smart race as my pace on race trim was really good like the top guys. At 5 laps to go we were 5 seconds behind the leader which is incredible for us as a satellite team. The hard work we have made in the winter and the long run we have been made adjusting the race map have helped us to get this positive result in the first round of the season".

-source: lcr