Temperatures rose to 34C this afternoon at Misano circuit and Max, Fonsi and Yukio had to work hard in difficult conditions as they began finding good set-ups for their GSX-R1000 Suzukis. Maxi ended the fastest of the trio, in ninth place, with Fonsi eleventh and Yukio twentieth. Yukio’s was suffering from his injured left hand and there was some speculation about whether or not his it would be strong enough to ride, but the gritty Japanese rider is determined to be on the grid on raceday and today was just the start. Troy Bayliss (Ducati) ended with the day’s fastest lap, with Jakub Smrz (Ducati) second, Troy Corser (Yamaha) third and Max Biaggi (Ducati) fourth.
Max - 9th, 1:37.751"We began with one bike with the Nurburgring set-up and the other bike with a slightly lowered front and that was the one that worked better. I had some problems exiting the corners because the bike was spinning a bit and that caused me to lose time. Otherwise I probably could’ve finished much higher up. I think we’ve more or less decided on which rear tyre to use in the race, but we’re not sure about the front yet. One thing I do know, is that it’s going to be a very difficult day on Sunday to do two races in this kind of heat!"
Fonsi -11th, 1:37.759"After Germany, today was much better and I was happy to be amongst the fastest in the morning session. Later, it was hard to find that last three or four tenths of a second, but the lap times are very, very close, so I am not unhappy. Tomorrow I want to be fast straightaway and do a good Superpole so that I don’t have to start way down the grid again. I don’t think I have ever ridden in such heat as today. After five or six laps, it was difficult to breathe properly and there’s no air coming inside the helmet. Sunday is going to be very tough for all of us."
Yukio - 20th, 1:38.636"It was very difficult for me out there today because of my hand. The doctors told me that it would be three weeks before the bone would be OK and longer for the ligaments I damaged. The ligaments are causing me problems when I am trying to get the bike to change direction - especially from left to right. Tomorrow I might try a pain-killing injection. It will be good for the pain, but the problem is that it will reduce the feeling in my hand!"
Circuit: 4.226 kms
Conditions: Dry, hot, sunny 30-34C
Friday Qualifying:1 Bayliss (Aus-Ducati) 1:36.863
2 Smrz (CZ-Ducati) 1:37.139
3 Corser (Aus-Yamaha) 1:37.224
4 Biaggi (I-Ducati) 1:37.477
5 Haga (J-Yamaha) 1:37.542
6 Laconi (F-Kawasaki) 1:37.574
7 Lanzi (I-Ducati) 1:37.618
8 Xaus (E-Ducati) 1:37.710
9 Max Neukirchner (D-Alstare Suzuki) 1:37.75110 Fonsi Nieto (E-Suzuki Alstare) 1:37.75920 Yukio Kagayama (J-Suzuki Alstare) 1:38.636
