It may be the longest day of the year but there was no sign of flaming June as heavy rain and cold conditions blighted the qualifying session for the bwin.com British Grand Prix at Donington Park this afternoon.
The wet track and cold conditions resulted in a miserable day for Britain’s great hope James Toseland who crashed twice in the one hour afternoon qualifying and once in the morning practice from his Tech 3 Yamaha.
The 27 year old Yorkshireman finally qualified in 16th place and will start from the sixth row of the grid for the 30 lap race which will be his first MotoGP appearance in front of the home fans.
“I’m very disappointed with my worst qualifying session of the season in front of my home crowd, “explained a bruised but uninjured Toseland.” I did not make the most of my qualifying tyre and then tried to push too hard on a tyre which was not the right one. It was always going to be difficult but now I’ve made it even harder but I did my best to push really hard in front of those home fans.”
Last year’s winner Australian Casey Stoner will start from pole position for the second race in succession on the Marlboro Ducati. The 22 year old Australian has looked in superb form round the 2.50 miles Parkland circuit both in the wet and dry. He led the way after two dry practice sessions yesterday and then led the wet qualifying with over half a second to spare.
Alongside Stoner of the front row of the grid is Championship leader and seven times Donington winner Valentino Rossi on the Fiat Yamaha. Australian Chris Vermeulen completes the front row despite a big crash from the Rizla Suzuki in the morning practice.
Former World Champion Nicky Hayden heads the second row from Colin Edwards and Andrea Dovizioso with Barcelona winner Dani Pedrosa starting from the third row in ninth place.
The weather forecaster! A little uncommitted and who can blame him.
Stay As You Are Gives Redding Front Row StartThe heavy rain made the second qualifying sessions for both the 125 and 250 cc riders a practice session with their times from the dry qualifying sessions on Friday determining the grid positions.
The rain handed 15 year old Gloucester-based Scott Redding a brilliant front row start after he was fourth fastest in the dry Friday session riding the Blusens Aprilia. It was not such a good day for Bradley Smith.
The morning 125 cc practice session when the rain was at its heaviest proved a disaster for many riders including Smith. The 17 year old fell twice from the Polaris World Aprilia but despite being battered and bruised still managed to go out in the wet qualifying. There were 23 fallers in that session with Smith and Chinese Grand Prix winner Andrea Iannone falling twice.
Danny Webb also crashed twice in the free practice and qualifying while in the 250 cc class Ulsterman Eugene Laverty crashed in the morning practice but was able to ride in the qualifying session.
The weather forecast is for mixed conditions – Let’s hope we get some sunshine.
