That made life difficult for the MotoGP riders at the relatively short circuit – 3,671 m – whose difficult characteristics were intensified by the conditions.

TONI ELIAS is continuing to feel the pains in his left hand while Ruben Xaus fell in the afternoon qualifying session despite looking comfortable during the morning.

The two YAMAHA FORTUNA riders, along with the rest of Herve Poncharal’s team, also took time to congratulate the rider in the box next door who was completing his 150th Grand Prix – Valentino Rossi.


TONI ELIAS (24):
Free session: 18th -1.25.635 + 1.640 (23/29 laps)
Qualifying session: 16th -1.25.068 + 1.260 (29/29 laps)

“This is a very difficult circuit that we have more problems at than normal. It’s a track with climbs and falls… with only three right-hand turns that means my left hand is suffering more than at other places. But the intense heat is the same for everyone – although the short track means it is different to other places. I am quite satisfied with the times I posted in the first two sectors, although in the second two I lost all the time I had made up. We must not fool ourselves, though, we must work hard to keep improving.”

RUBEN XAUS (11):
Free Session: 17th -1.25.349 + 1.354 (30/31 laps)
Qualifying session: 19th -1.25.456 + 1.648 (06/22 laps)

“This morning we resolved a couple of minor problems we’d been having and were then able to start working in the right direction. The hot temperatures this afternoon prevented us from lowering the time from this morning, but I believe I can improve tomorrow. The fall this afternoon was a shame because we were looking to post our fastest time, but it happened at a point where great riders like Rossi and Barros have fallen before.”