Team-mate Nobuatsu Aoki was left struggling, searching for front-end grip to be able to exploit the machine’s high corner speed potential, and unable to put himself higher than the fourth row.

Brno is the fourth of a quartet of highly technical circuits, where the KR3’s strengths outweigh a relative lack of top-end speed compared with the four-cylinder two-strokes, and more especially the new-generation 990cc four-stroke MGP machines.

McWilliams switched back to the standard chassis after testing the newer “wideline” version in the morning. The newer chassis offers several advantages, but the older version has not only an excellent record at Brno, but also offers better engine performance in certain areas because of better internal air flow through the highly-developed airbox.

As usual, the KR3 top speed times were relatively slow, with McWilliams more than 20km/h down on the fastest speed, 271.3km/h compared with Max Biaggi’s four-stroke Yamaha, at 293.6km/h.

Provisional pole went to championship leader Valentino Rossi’s V5 four-stroke Honda. There is one more day of qualifying tomorrow before Sunday’s race.

JEREMY McWILLIAMS
“It’s better than I expected. Being second-fastest two-stroke is like being second on the road to us. This is a good track for our bike – it hates the straights, but loves the bendy bits. I’m using the standard chassis because it gives the engine more punch onto the straights, and that makes more difference at this track than some others. But we’ve also fitted a new rear suspension link that makes it feel more like the new chassis. We haven’t really had any problems so far. We got to the settings quite quickly. I’ve gone quicker than the bike’s ever been here before, so I’m not exactly just sitting on it. But there is more to come by taking more risks, though I’d be happier if we could improve the front feeling so I could go into the corners harder.”

NOBUATSU AOKI
“I’ve been struggling for front grip, especially when the bike is right on the edge, even though I am using the softest tyre. It’s the same as at the last two races, only worse. It feels strange … as though it is chattering, but I think it’s not chatter, but just a shortage of grip. We’ll have to work again on the suspension and chassis side – try to figure it out. My team has been able to do that for me at the last races, and I hope we can do it again tomorrow.”

CHUCK AKSLAND – Team Manager
“I thought that the standard chassis might be better here, because we have a lot of data on it from the past, and it suits this circuit. Turned out to be right. Jeremy is going well as always, and we’ll do some thinking to try to improve Nobu’s situation.”

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