After the problems yesterday, Xavi enjoyed a trouble-free ride in today’s free practice and timed qualifying and was able to set the fourth quickest lap of the day. His time of 1:42.254, puts him on the front row of the grid behind pole-setter Claudio Corti (Yamaha), Maxime Berger (Honda) and Michele Pirro (Yamaha) for tomorrow’s 13-lap race.
Xavi - 4th, 1:42.254
I’m happy that I’ve made the front row because now I know I can fight for the podium. This afternoon the bike felt very good and I am looking forward to the race - especially after the problems we had yesterday. This morning I went out in the free practice and although some of the track was dry, some of it was not and I nearly had a ‘moment’ at the final chicane because it was quite wet! But I didn’t crash and was able to carry on without too much of a problem. I was on the third row of the grid in Valencia and managed to get on the podium, so now that I am the front row I know that I have a better chance to do it again.
Circuit: 4.555 kms
Conditions: Damp in the morning, dry in the afternoon, 16-19 C.
Final Qualifying:
1 Corti (I-Yamaha) 1:41.576
2 Berger (F-Honda) 1:41.658
3 Pirro (I-Yamaha) 1:41.719
4 Xavi Simeon (B-Alstare Suzuki) 1:42.254
5 Roberts (Aus-Ducati) 1:42.417
6 Magnoni (I-Yamaha) 1:42.422,
