Grand Prix 2000 - Round 16 - Phillip Island - Friday Qualifying
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Just as the 500 qualifying session commenced a few drops of rain started falling around Siberia but
fortunately it quickly went but not after a few of the riders headed straight back to the pits to consider changing to intermediates.
McCoy was sliding the YZR 500 around more than ever before dropping it on the entry into turn one, probably due to Phillip Island's extreme wind, which was particularly bad today. 15 minutes later Criville went down at the same place also probably due to the wind. McCoy got back on the track with 33 minutes remaining in the session. Rossi was out on the 2001 version of the NSR 500 for some of the session and rumour has it that he might even race the new bike. With 12 minutes remaining McCoy was 11th and Willis 13th. McCoy got back on track with 9 minutes remaining to try and better his position as it may well be wet tomorrow, which would make today's qualifying session even more important. Norick Abe came from nowhere and punted his Yamaha around to the fastest lap. But then Biaggi got up into 2nd with 8 minutes remaining. On the next lap went quicker again to sit fastest on the timesheets. Then Abe quickest again for all of about 20 seconds before Roberts went out and stamped his dominance again by going fastest and immediately backed that up by going quicker again. With 4 minutes remaining all the big boys were out in an effort to get as far as possible up the timesheet in case of rain tomorrow. Barros pulled out all stops with 2 minutes remaining to record the quickest time with Roberts right up his clacker on the track and on the timesheets. 12 thousandths of a second separate Barros and Roberts with 2 minutes remaining in the session. Rossi back on track and up into 3rd on the timesheets aboard the 2001 NSR and tried hard to get quicker on the last lap around but just missed out on overtaking Roberts on the timesheets. |
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