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SUZUKA TIMED QUALIFYING: HAYDEN FASTEST!
Suzuka: Timed Qualifying
01 Aug 2003 11:51
Seven Stars Honda - Nicky Hayden Provisional pole position
has gone to the No.11 Seven Stars Honda SP-W of Nicky Hayden
and Riuchi Kiyonari. Hayden’s fastest
lap of 2:07.312 was put in during this morning’s first session,
when track conditions were ideal. MotoGP rookie Hayden is having
a great time this weekend: “This is a race we hear a lot
about in the states; all my heroes have raced at the Suzuka 8 Hour
so I’m just happy to be here. I hope we can put on a good
show for the race on Sunday.” Second fastest is the only
other team to break into the 2:07s, the Daxim Yoshimura Suzuki
of Atushi Watanabe and Yukio Kagayama with a best lap of 2:07.540.
The full-time championship teams are all having tyre problems.
Suzuki Police Nationale’s Gwen Giabbani seems to be having
the most trouble: “It’s still no good. The bike won’t
grip, it won’t turn. It’s just no good today. We
are trying to find the solution, but…” The situation
is similar for Suzuki GB Phase One in the adjoining pit garage.
Rider Jason Pridmore explains: “The rear is just spin,
spin, spin… and with this tyre rule we can’t try
different compounds.”
Suzuki Zonshen No.2’s Igor Jerman seems disappointed with
his performance today, convincing himself that performance on Sunday
is more important: “I think we can do 2:12s in the race;
I did that last year with no problems.” Zongshen No.1’s
Warwick Nowland is the fastest of the permanent riders, but is
always convinced there is more to come: “I could have gone
quicker if we’d had qualifying tyres – the ten tyre
rule has caused us lots of problems. We need nine sets of tyres
for the race which means Stephane and I are sharing a qualifier.”
The X-One Mondial team are enjoying their first visit to Suzuka,
and are confident of qualifying for the over-subscribed grid. Their
main competition for the race comes in the shape of the Formula
Xtreme Kawasaki Z1, the two BMW R1100Ss and the pair of Honda CB1300s,
a popular class with both racers and spectators.
A sizeable crowd has gathered in the grandstand opposite pitlane,
displaying banners supporting everyone from old-hand Shinichi
Itoh to Suzuka novice Nicky Hayden. Today’s pitlane walkabout
opened with a sprint as those fans clamoured – in an orderly
and polite Japanese way – for riders’ autographs
and the chance to be photographed with the “Race Queen” promo
girls. As ever at Suzuka the weather is hot and humid, but the
temperatures are not as high as expected.
The first 20 places
on the grid will be decided by a series of Superpole “Special Stage – Attack / Jump-Up” sessions
to be held tomorrow after the Supersport Suzuka 4 Hour support
race. Special tyres can be used for Superpole, so times are expected
to fall further when the special qualifiers come out.
Subject to confirmation by the official timekeepers, Zongshen No.1
have qualified in 20th place – ninth in the their group – and
will thus take part in the Special Stage.
Provisional Top Ten
1st: 11 – Honda Seven Stars (JPN) – Hayden, Kiyonari – 2:07.312
2nd: 12 - Suzuki Yoshimura Daxim (JPN) – Watanabe, Kagayama – 2:07.540
3rd: 7 – Honda Seven Stars (JPN) – Ukawa, Izutsu – 2:08.178
4th: 21 - Yamaha YSP Presto (JPN) – Nakatomi, Yoshikawa – 2:09.107
5th: 87 – Honda FCC TSR (JPN) – Konishi, Mori – 2:09.189
6th: 74 – Honda Sakurai (JPN) – Okada, Kameya – 2:09.229
7th: 8 – Suzuki Kenz J Trust (JPN) – Kitagawa, Fujiwara – 2:09.254
8th: 555 – Honda Masked Rider (JPN) – Yamaguchi, Takahashi – 2:09.255
9th: 20 – Suzuki Garfield RSK (JPN) – Kobayashi, Ogata – 2:09.471
10th: 44 – Honda Weider DDBoys (JPN) – Deguchi, Aoki – 2:09.650
11th: 54 – Suzuki Alpha OMC (JPN) ) – Tamitsuji, Konno – 2:09.996
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20th: 1 Suzuki Zongshen No.1 (CHN) – Nowland, Mertens – 2:10.941
22nd: 2 Suzuki Zongshen No.2 (CHN) – Jerman, Bonhuil, Bontempi – 2:10.954
24th : 3 Suzuki GB Phase One (GBR) – Pridmore, Ellison,
Lindstrom – 2:11.180
26th: 22 Suzuki Police Nationale (FRA) – Giabbani, Kishida – 2:11.250
72th: 5 Mondial x-One (ITA) – Oikawa, Perselli, Bargiacchi – 2:18.176 |
