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MOTOGP: Pedrosa Tops Closest Ever Qualifying Top 10
Written by: Colin Young   
03/23/2007
Jerez, Spain
 
Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa (Photo: Honda Pro Images) ยป More Photos

Home hero Dani Pedrosa will start his factory Honda RC212V from pole position in the Spanish Grand prix at Jerez after a historic qualifying session. Pedrosa edged out five-time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi in a session that created the closest ever top ten in GP history. Just 0.325s covered the top group with American rider Kenny Roberts Jr tenth fastest.

In a perfect day for Spanish fans Carlos Checa, also on a Honda, completed the front row of the grid with the third fastest time -- just 58 hundredths of a second (0.058) separated the leading trio.

The impact of the high-speed qualifying shoot-out was the frustration of world champion Nicky Hayden on a factory Honda. The Kentucky Kid was just four tenths of a second (0.4s) off pole but will start from position 11 on the fourth row.

But the final moments of qualifying belonged to Pedrosa who finished in this race a year ago on his debut ride in MotoGP. This is his fifth career pole position.

"I think my team did a good job and I'm very happy to have qualified on pole position and at this track it is really important thing is to be on the front row – that was my main aim today," Pedrosa said. "The race set-up we have for the bike is quite good and the tire choice looks OK as we'll have to see how the performance continues over the race distance. I don't think there's any extra pressure that comes from being on pole position but the times are very close so a good start will be very important.

"The crowd was amazing today. On the last lap coming into the pits I was more relaxed and I could actually notice how many people there were."

Rossi was less certain of his race tire choice after qualifying, suggesting he did not have the perfect option under the new rules which demand riders nominate an allocation of 17 rear tires for the race weekend on Thursday.

"I would prefer a slightly harder compound and for the sure the race will be difficult for me, the bike will move around a lot in the final laps but I hope it is the same for everyone," Rossi said. "I think tires are going to be the biggest issue in the race, it's going to be an exciting race for the fans!"

It is now five races since Rossi has won and if he does not win at Jerez he will extend his losing streak to six -- the longest of his career.

But Checa is primed for a strong challenge in the 27-lap race
with a brilliant performance, not only in qualifying, but also in free practice. Checa has posted the fastest time on race tires in the build-up to race and claims he is very happy with his race tire option.

"This front row is a very good feeling, especially for my home race," Checa said. "Predictions are difficult but if the weather and track are the same for the race as in practice, then we have a very good set-up, and a chance to fight for the podium. The LCR team has done a great job, especially to give me more confidence with the front-end which I lacked at Qatar for the opening race."

While Hayden had no excuses although he continues to admit that he lacks confidence in the front-end set-up of the 800cc Honda RC212V. Hayden has no doubt that a charging run into turn one on track that is tough for overtaking will be central to his race chances.

"I wasn't totally satisfied with my qualifying laps and I'm definitely a little disappointed with my grid position – 0.4s doesn't sound like a long way off but right now in this league at this track it's a lot," Hayden said.

"It's frustrating to be this far back especially knowing how tight it could be on the first lap – you've got to be smart in turn one, but you can't go in there tip-toeing either. I'm due a good start so I'll be banking on that in the race."

In the final moments of the session Checa bumped American rider Colin Edwards back to fourth on the second row which the Texan shares with Qatar GP winner Casey Stoner (Ducati) and Californian ace John Hopkins (Suzuki).

Japan's Shinya Nakano claimed seventh, with the Gresini Honda duo Toni Elias and Marco Melandri eighth and ninth respectively.

Hopkins will race with painful wrist injury that he suffered in crash a during pre-season testing in Qatar.

"I'm a lot happier this afternoon and we really got through a lot of work and made some headway with the race tires," Hopkins said. "We did a decent run in the qualifying session and I'm feeling comfortable with our race pace. Going into qualifying I said I'd be happy with being on the front two rows, but when the time comes you always want more. I am quite happy to start there and the field is so close that a good start is essential."

The weather forecast for the race is a continuation of the sunny, but cool conditions present for two days of qualifying and practice.