- 1st - Loris Capirossi - "I knew I could do
it, when I came into the pits for my final run I told the mechanics to leave the settings alone, change the tyres and watch the TV screens. Everything went to plan and I think I've made my mark on Suzuka! But I know the race will be more difficult."
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- 2nd - Shinya Nakano - "I went faster than yesterday but I'm amazed by Capirossi's
time, however, my main concern is that we've got a good set-up that will allow me to be fast over full race distance. I'm feeling confident and I'm really looking forward to my first 500 GP."
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- 5th - Tohru Ukawa - “I was going faster than
yesterday, and fifth position is not a bad result. The most important thing is that we
found a good set-up for the race. The time Capirossi put in is really surprising, and even though I also tried hard to get down to the ,04’s, I’m
sure that race pace tomorrow won’t be that fast, probably in the ,06’s.
The first part of the race will be very balanced, but the real fight for
victory will start from mid-race on. I have already won the Suzuka 8 Hours here three times, but racing a 500 is another thing, and I don’t
know in what physical kind of shape I’ll be in by the end of the race. But
I’m an optimist and I believe that I will take a good result in my first 500
race tomorrow.”
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- 7th - Valentino Rossi - "It's a
shame, because we've been fast throughout practice and I was quickest
this morning, obviously it is not in my strategy to be on the second
row, but I was unlucky this afternoon."
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- 9th - Kenny Roberts - "The bike
got better again today, with some good development for the race.
Obviously as a rider and a team we should be higher than where we are,
and that is very frustrating for us the moment. But I feel we have a
good package for the race. The team did well to get a half-second off
the lap time. It was mainly suspension adjustments that got some of
the chatter away, and that meant I could lap quicker and be more
consistent. At the moment, the others have too many advantages with
their machines. In the race, I hope I can outride them. It's the same
situation as last year, and I feel I can do it, though the gap is
quite big this time. I'll give it 100 per cent, and ride as hard as
ever. That's what I'm paid to do."
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- 11th - Alex Criville - “My aim for today was to
maintain my second row position on the grid, but this was not possible today. I’m not
too worried though, because my pace in practice was good, and I think that the race leaders will ride in high ,06’s and low ,07’s. In the last five
minutes, I missed out on a fast lap to improve in the qualifying list, but
there were a lot of riders on the track that were waiting for somebody to
tow them along, and in the end I didn’t have any reference to put in my
best time. With this grid position, the most important thing tomorrow is
a good start if I want to be within the battle for the first positions, even
though I am well aware that we are just at the very beginning, and the
championship is very long. In these two first races, the most important
thing is just to collect as many points as possible.”
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- 14th - Sete Gibernau - "We've
been trying some changes on the bike, and it is working better, but
still not perfect. I'm not happy with the way it is changing direction
- I have to wrestle with it too much, though it is good when it's
leaned over in the corner. Under the circumstances, my target was to
be in the low sevens, and I can do those times consistently, though it
does look as if I'm off the pace right now. I'm starting to get
comfortable with the bike now, but we still haven't got it to the
point where I can be where I want to be every time on the track. I am
still learning."
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- 15th - Akira Ryo - "We have had
setting problems all through qualifying, until right at the end of the
last session, when I could take half-a-second off my previous best lap
time. The chattering problem is solved, and the bike is running well.
Now I can start to really push it, and I am confident of a good result
tomorrow."
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- 16th - Jurgen Van Den Goorbergh -
"Today has gone quite well really. This morning I tried a couple of 16.5 tyres, and while one was not so good, the other didn't have as much chatter as I'd expected, and it didn't bother me so much. I could also get with some other riders and get a better rhythm. I'm losing a little on the slower parts of the track, but gaining on the faster corners. We're closing the gap on the guys who had three days of testing here, even though we've only had
four hours. I'd hoped to be a few places higher on the grid, and I might have done it except for a small engine problem on my last fast lap. We're still struggling a bit with
carburetor settings, but don't forget that in practice the four-cylinder bikes can run with a minimum of fuel. When all the bikes have full tanks, then our lighter weight becomes more of an advantage. We're getting closer. I hope I can get a good start, and go with a group of four-cylinder bikes. Then we'll see what happens ....."
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- 23rd - Mark Willis - "Today was much better than yesterday.
"We had 2 full sessions today without too many problems. " That was a bonus after losing nearly a full session yesterday.
"We tried a few different suspension and chassis set- ups today and have found something that I am comfortable with.
" It is now a matter of me doing more laps. " This track requires you to flow and that is what I have been working on.
" We have our race tyres picked so we are aiming to finish the race so we have some good data to go away and
study, and be more ready for the next race."
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