TT Assen: Gresini Racing qualifying report

THIRD AND FOURTH ROWS FOR TEAM SAN CARLO HONDA GRESINI RIDERS

After once again demonstrating good potential in free practice, Team San Carlo Honda Gresini's two riders again struggled to turn that form into top qualifying positions this afternoon, with Shinya Nakano sealing ninth place on the grid whilst Alex De Angelis will start from just behind his team-mate from twelfth place. After finding a good compromise for the bike and tyres in race trim, it will be another major challenge for the San Marino rookie as he looks to make up places at a circuit where overtaking is notoriously difficult.

Shinya Nakano (9th - 1'36"804): "I expected a better result because we've been working well on qualifying tyres recently and the bike setting was good. A fast lap just didn't come though and that may be because the front end was not our strongest point today. In any case, a third row start is not a disaster and we can still do well in tomorrow's race."

Alex De Angelis (12th - 1'36"948): "We've shown over the past few rounds that we have a good package in race trim and thanks to the support of Bridgestone we also have a tyre now that suits my style of riding. However, I'm still having trouble adapting my pace to a qualifying tyre and I can't get the maximum out of it. I will be limited by my starting position but I showed today that my pace is good again. I did a couple of laps in 1'37"2 on race rubber so I'm confident, even though it is not easy to overtake here."

Fausto Gresini - Team manager: "We need good starts from our riders in the race tomorrow and after that we can look forward to a good race. That is what their practice pace has shown us in another positive weekend so far."

-credit: gresiniracing.com