The Qualifying session held at the circuit of Cheste to determine the starting positions for the last MotoGP race of the season, was marked by an amazingly close field as the riders all jockeyed for position. The Pramac-d'Antin Team didn't have especially good luck as Alex Barros, in possibly the last qualifying session of his professional career, was unable to exploit the full potential from his Qualifying tyre, relegating himself to start the race from twelfth position, while even worse luck struck his team mate, Chaz Davies, who crashed during his fastest lap of the weekend, leaving him in worse shape to start the race on Sunday.
Alex Barros (24 laps. 1´32,71)“I know I'm in a bad position to start the race tomorrow. Everything is good enough, though, because we have a good set-up, adequate tyres for the race, and I like this track a lot, as demonstrated by my finishing in the top five in two of the sessions. The problem I have is with the Qualifying tyres, because I can't get everything out of them, and that means a worse spot on the grid. Tomorrow, the question will be whether or not I can get a great start and pass many people as possible in the least amount of time so I can run with the front.
Lastly, I want to apologise to Loris for inadvertently slowing him while he was on his fast lap and costing him valuable positions”.
Chaz Davies (17 laps. 1´34,43)”Well, what can I say? This morning I was in a lot of pain, but we did a good job and were ready for the Qualifying session this afternoon. The set-up was getting good and little by little I was lowering my times. When I went back out on-track to get a better place on the grid with the Qualifying tyre, I committed the same mistake I made yesterday by opening the gas too much before the tyre was in the right condition, and I crashed again. It was in the first right-hand corner after six lefts before it, so that may have had something to do with it. The race tomorrow will be very hard for me, because my hand and body are in a lot of pain, but like always, I'm going to give it everything I've got”.
Official Times:1. Dani Pedrosa 1´31,51
2. Casey Stoner 1´31´60
3. Nicky Hayden 1´31´90
4. Randy de Puniet 1´31´96
5. Sylvain Guintoli 1´32´07
12. Alex Barros 1´32´71
19. Chaz Davies 1´34´43
