Valenci GP Repsol YPF Honda second qualifying practice

Thanks to a valiant last-lap effort, Sete Gibernau pushed himself to the top of the third row for the Valencia Grand Prix. Qualifying was extremely close today, with Gibernau only half a second down on the pole time. World champion Alex Criville will start the last European Grand Prix of the season from the eleventh position while Tadayuki Okada claimed the 14th fastest time today.

SETE GIBERNAU ­ 9th ­ 1¹35.651
"We worked towards getting a set-up to last the race, not just one fast lap. I started the session using a 17 inch tyre because this morning the 16.5 gave me some chatter. After a while, I switched to the 16.5 to see if our set-up changes had improved the situation and straight away I lapped in the 1¹35s. But I was unlucky after that because just when I started to go fast, there was a problem with the rear brake. By the time that was fixed I only had time for one fast lap. It¹s a pity, but I¹m confident for a good race tomorrow".

ALEX CRIVILLE ­ 11th ­ 1¹35.701
"My grid position isn¹t very good so of course I¹m not very happy. But the gap between me and the front runners is very small. The times were so close today. We started working with the 16.5 inch tyre today but as we hadn¹t expected to go off in that direction, we only had two wheels ready with that type of tyre and that lost us some time. Tomorrow, it will once again be very important to get a good start. This track is narrow and there¹s really only two places where it¹s possible to overtake so the start will be crucial".

TADAYUKI OKADA ­ 14th ­ 1¹36.091
"The main problem I¹m facing is a lack of rear traction. It¹s making it well nigh impossible for me to put together a consistent lap because as soon as I pitch the bike into a corner, the rear starts to slide. I just can¹t ride the way I would want to. The good news is that my confidence is back up. I¹m not worried about that section where I crashed this winter anymore. That¹s no longer a problem for me. We¹ll play around with the set-up again tomorrow and hope to find a way to improve the situation". <pre> Starting grid ­ Cheste - 500cc 1 K. Roberts Telefonica Movistar Suzuki Suzuki 1¹35.133 2 M. Biaggi Marlboro Yamaha Team Yamaha 1¹35.191 3 L. Capirossi Emerson Honda Pons Honda 1¹35.296 4 G. McCoy Red Bull Yamaha WCM Yamaha 1¹35.388 5 V. Rossi Nastro Azzurro Honda Honda 1¹35.424 6 C. Checa Marlboro Yamaha Team Yamaha 1¹35.452 7 A. Barros Emerson Honda Pons Honda 1¹35.481 8 J. vd Goorbergh Rizla Honda TSR-Honda 1¹35.632 9 S. Gibernau Repsol YPF Honda Team Honda 1¹35.651 10 R. Laconi Red Bull Yamaha WCM Yamaha 1¹35.682 11 A. Criville Repsol YPF Honda Team Honda 1¹35.701 12 N. Aoki Telefonica Movistar Suzuki Suzuki 1¹35.800 13 J. McWilliams Blu Aprilia Team Aprilia 1¹35.894 14 T. Okada Repsol YPF Honda Team Honda 1¹36.091 15 D. De Gea Proton TEAM KR Modenas KR3 1¹36.109

Pole : K. Roberts 1¹35.133 Fastest lap: K. Roberts 1¹35.133 Circuit Record Lap 1999 : K. Roberts 1¹42.473