|
|
|
|
 |
News, Views & Racing Results ....
 MotoGP: Rossi runs away with pole record in Shanghai qualifying shootout - 05-05-2007
Valentino Rossi put in a storming lap of 1’58.424 lap at the Shanghai International Circuit to smash the pole record and place himself at the head of grid for the Sinopec Great Wall Lubricants Grand Prix of China. The Fiat Yamaha rider was simply unstoppable in the latter stages of the qualifying practice, and his pole time eclipsed free practice top dog John Hopkins by just under nine tenths of a second.
The Rizla Suzuki rider was by no means shirking off, and marked his return to the scene of his first ever MotoGP front row by once again putting himself on the first line of attack. Hopkins has one of his best shots at the elusive maiden MotoGP podium at Shanghai, and has been running well all season on the now highly competitive GSV-R800.
Colin Edwards joins team-mate Rossi on the front row for the third time this season, albeit nearly a second slower than the Italian. Casey Stoner –trailed by riders looking for a tow from the Desmosedici GP7 on the long straights, heads row two, ahead of last year’s dominant force in China Dani Pedrosa and Marco Melandri.
Randy de Puniet, Alex Barros, Nicky Hayden and Shinya Nakano complete the top ten, making it a mixed bag for both factories and tyre manufacturers. The threat of rain tomorrow could make things even more interesting for the MotoGP riders, with the previous two races at Shanghai undertaken in very different conditions.
Makoto Tamada suffered a crash towards the midway point of the session, whilst Chris Vermeuelen and Loris Capirossi’s chances of a late push for the upper echelons of the grid went up in smoke after they collided on their hot laps.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
 |
Bikes bought
for cash - best prices paid
more>
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
| Extra Section |
|
|
