Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team rider Ben Spies produced another inspired qualifying performance in Misano today, the American just missing out on a third successive front row start by the narrowest of margins. The Texan was able to capitalise on numerous set-up tweaks made from practice to finish just 0.075s from the front row in a closely contested qualifying session that saw less than one second cover the top nine riders.
Spies was once again leading non-factory team rider in fifth position, his quickest lap of 1.34.472 just 0.002s behind reigning world champion and Misano crowd favourite Valentino Rossi.
Spies made big progress in his quest to find a more comfortable front-end setting with his YZR-M1 machine this afternoon and the 26-year-old is confident he can mount a strong challenge for his third podium finish of the season in tomorrow’s race.
Click Here to Read More
MotoGP: Pole Sitter Dani Pedrosa Wins San Marino Grand Prix, Overshadowed by Moto2 Driver’s Death
MotoGP: San Marino Grand Prix - Race Results
Video: Moto2 Driver Shoya Tomizawa Dies in Crash at San Marino Grand Prix
Colin Edwards further boosted his confidence that he can claim a first top six finish of the 2010 campaign after storming to seventh place on the grid.
Ben Spies - Position:5th, Time: 1.34.472
“We made some changes to the bike overnight that didn’t really help this morning and then made more changes before qualifying and they made a big improvement. Everything went smooth and it was a good qualifying session. The first goal is to be on the second row at least and I’ve done that, but I think I should have had another front row. I got caught up with Capirossi and that was a little annoying. I wasn’t too upset at the time because I didn’t think it would be a front row lap, but looking back I was on my best lap and I’m pretty sure I would be sitting on the outside of the front row. But I’m a lot happier and more confident with the bike than I was this morning and I know we can make some more changes to make us stronger for the race. We can make the bike easier to ride towards the end of the race and I’m looking forward to it. My confidence is really high after the last couple of races and there’s no reason why I can’t be challenging for a top position again tomorrow.”
Colin Edwards - Postion:7th, Time:1.34.783
“I’ve felt good on the bike all weekend and that showed with fourth position overall in practice. I really felt I had the speed to get on the second row, but de Puniet just got sixth from me by less than a tenth. But I’m happy with the way things have been going this weekend. As the temperature came up today it felt like I was pushing the front a bit but I know we can make a minor adjustment to fix that and my race pace has been pretty strong all weekend. I doubt I can do mid-34s the whole race but I think a top six is definitely within my grasp. After what happened last year I just want to make it through the first corner and at lea st get the chance to put up a fight. But there’s no reason why the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team shouldn’t have a double top six finish tomorrow and that would be a great result.”
| 
|