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Post by BADGER on Jun 23, 2007 21:15:46 GMT
Full MotoGP qualifying times from the British Grand Prix at Donington Park, round eight of the 2007 world championship. 1. Colin Edwards USA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 1min 28.531 secs 2. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 1min 28.677 secs 3. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 28.863 secs 4. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 29.025 secs 5. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 29.061 secs 6. John Hopkins USA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 29.073 secs 7. Carlos Checa SPA Honda LCR (M) 1min 29.281 secs 8. Randy de Puniet FRA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 29.415 secs 9. Marco Melandri ITA Gresini Honda (B) 1min 29.498 secs 10. Toni Elias SPA Gresini Honda (B) 1min 29.711 secs 11. Shinya Nakano JPN Konica Minolta Honda (M) 1min 29.718 secs 12. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 29.793 secs 13. Loris Capirossi ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 29.900 secs 14. Alex Hofmann GER Pramac d'Antin MotoGP (B) 1min 29.911 secs 15. Alex Barros BRA Pramac d'Antin MotoGP (B) 1min 30.071 secs 16. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Dunlop Tech 3 Yamaha (D) 1min 30.271 secs 17. Anthony West AUS Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 30.718 secs 18. Makoto Tamada JPN Dunlop Tech 3 Yamaha (D) 1min 30.800 secs 19. Kurtis Roberts USA Team Roberts (M) 1min 31.543 secs
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Post by BADGER on Jun 23, 2007 21:22:23 GMT
Edwards: Now the win?
After four and a half years of trying, Colin Edwards should be in contention to finally break his MotoGP duck at Donington Park on Sunday, after seizing pole position for the British Grand Prix. Edwards, under pressure for results to help secure his Yamaha seat for 2008, deposed Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi from the top spot on his very final lap of the afternoon - marking his second ever MotoGP pole.
Unfortunately the first, at Le Mans in May, counted for nothing in the rain hit race, but Edwards was fourth fastest in the rain on Friday afternoon at Donington and is feeling confident whatever the weather - although he will need to overcome the considerable talents of fellow front row starters Rossi and Dani Pedrosa, plus championship leader Casey Stoner, to finally achieve his grand prix goal.
"I'm really happy so far this weekend. We made big steps with our rain set-up yesterday and then today Michelin brought the good race tyres I wanted and things were looking good in the dry too," said the Texan. "With the qualifying tyre things felt really great once again and I'm seriously happy to be on pole here.
"You need to get the left side of the tyre scrubbed because Craner Curves is deadly if you don't. With my second soft tyre I got the left side really warmed up on my out lap and then just pulled the pin. If you really want pole you have to take a lot of risk; that's what I did today and it paid off!
"My race pace feels pretty good and it was fairly consistent this afternoon, I need to study the data with my guys now to really know exactly where we are but we're definitely in good shape for tomorrow," he confirmed.
Rossi, who will start the race 14 points behind MotoGP World Championship leader Casey Stoner - fifth on the grid - has had a somewhat turbulent weekend, falling on both Friday and Saturday morning, but his only problem during qualifying was catching Kurtis Roberts at the wrong time. When the bike and tyres are feeling good this is a fantastic track to ride and now with these new 800s you can use all the best lines, so it's a great feeling. Unfortunately I got a little bit blocked by another rider on my lap and I lost a bit of time, but anyway Colin and I are one and two so this is the most important thing and I want to say well done to Colin," declared the Italian. "This morning was not brilliant for us but this afternoon things were a lot better and my bike felt very good. Thanks to Michelin because they've brought some good tyres here and they seem to be working well with our bike; we have two good race tyres to choose from for tomorrow. Now let's hope that it stays dry like this for the race!"
Fiat Yamaha riders have now taken pole for six out of eight races this season - but no-one has yet won from pole in 2007.
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