A dramatic final qualifying session of the season at the Ricardo Tormo circuit which produced a fourth consecutive pole position for Spaniard Dani Pedrosa and a spectacular crash for seven times World Champion Valentino Rossi. The Italian fractured three bones in his right hand and also suffered some back pain after crashing the Fiat Yamaha coming out of turn one early in the one-hour session round the 2.489 miles circuit. Throughout his 11th year grand prix career Rossi has never missed a race and is hopeful he will start tomorrow although it will be from 17th place on the grid.
If Pedrosa wins his second race of the season and Rossi fails to score any points, the Spanish Repsol Honda rider will grab second place in the Championship but it will be tough. Alongside him on the front row will be World Champion Casey Stoner and the all-conquering Marlboro Ducati that has already brought the 22 year-old Australian ten grands prix victories this season.
Completing the front row for the 30-lap race will be American Nicky Hayden who clinched the 2006 World Championship in the final race in Valencia last year. Frenchman Randy De Puniet heads the second row completed by the Tech 3Yamaha Dunlop pair of Sylvain Guintoli and Makoto Tamada.
Results:
1. Dani PEDROSA (SPA) HONDA 1'31.517,
2. Casey STONER (AUS) DUCATI 1'31.603,
3. Nicky HAYDEN (USA) HONDA 1'31.903,
4. Randy DE PUNIET (FRA) KAWASAKI 1'31.963,
5. Sylvain GUINTOLI (FRA) YAMAHA 1'32.074,
6. Makoto TAMADA (JPN) YAMAHA 1'32.151,
7. John HOPKINS (USA) SUZUKI 1'32.165,
8. Loris CAPIROSSI (ITA) DUCATI 1'32.261,
9. Carlos CHECA (SPA) HONDA 1'32.273,
10. Marco MELANDRI (ITA) HONDA 1'32.367,
19. Chaz DAVIES (GBR) DUCATI 1'34.436.
Davies Down Again
It’s been a tough weekend for 20 year-old Chaz Davies who crashed for the second time in the MotoGP qualifying session. He missed the practice session yesterday afternoon after falling from the Pramac D’Antin Ducati in the morning and fracturing some fingers.
He fell again in the qualifying session this afternoon and hurt his wrist. The Herefordshire rider starts his final race for Spanish-based team from 19th place on the grid.
After a superb morning practice session 16 year-old Bradley Smith was disappointed to only qualify 12th in the second 125cc session. He will start from the third row of the grid on his last ride on the Repsol Honda.
“We had some problems with the front tyre which took some time to sort out and then I made a mistake on my last lap,” explained the Oxfordshire rider. “I’m confident I can make a good start from the third row because the bike is accelerating well.”
Danny Webb will start the 24-lap 125cc race from 28th place while Ulsterman Eugene Laverty ends a very tough rookie 250cc season from the seventh row of the grid after qualifying 26th.
Toseland ‘s Watching Brief James Toseland was a very interested spectator in Valencia. The World Superbike Champion will compete in the MotoGP World Championship next season riding for the Tech 3 Yamaha team.
“I’ve been to MotoGP at Valencia before but this time it’s fantastic to be here knowing next year I will be competing with the riders out there,” explained Toseland. “I’m very excited about working with Herve Poncheral and the Tech 3 team in the championship and I just want to get started.”
Toseland will start his MotoGP career with his first test on the 800cc Yamaha at the MotoGP test at Sepang in Malaysia later this month.
Webb Set To Re-sign For Two Years Sixteen year-old Danny Webb is set to sign a new two-year contract with the Dutch-based Arie Molenaar team to ride in the 125cc World Championship.
The Kent teenager will complete his first grand prix season with the team in Valencia tomorrow (Sunday) riding the De Graaf Grand Prix Honda. It’s been a tough debut season but Webb was rewarded by scoring his first ever World Championship points in Japan this year.
“The team has been fantastic and I’m sure next year we can start scoring points regularly. I’m so pleased to continue grand prix racing,” said a delighted Webb.
The Choice Of Machinery Has Still To Be Decided. There will be three British riders in next year’s 125cc World Championship. Bradley Smith will be riding for the Polaris World Aprilia team. Fifteen year-old Scott Redding will make his World Championship debut for the Blusens Aprilia team and Danny Webb.
Valentino’s Night Vision Valentino Rossi will head the riders in the first MotoGP night test in Qatar on November 12 in preparation for the very first MotoGP race to be staged under floodlights.
The first floodlit grand prix will take place at the Doha International circuit on Sunday March 9th 2008 which is also the first race of the 18-round World Championship season.
Rossi will be joined by Loris Capirossi plus a rider from each of the MotoGP teams in the special historic test.
