MotoGP 2002 - Round 10 - Brno

Having won eight of the nine races this year, Valentino Rossi has so far been head and shoulders above the other riders in the MotoGP class in its inaugural season. On board the all-conquering Honda RC211V at the Brno circuit in the Czech Republic today, Rossi continued his fine form into the second part of the season, but it seems certain that he will be given a much rougher ride than he may have enjoyed up until now.

Rossi rides this weekend as a representative of the town of Libis in the central area of the Czech Republic, as was decided yesterday in a demonstration of solidarity between the MotoGP community and victims of the flooding disaster which struck the country in recent weeks. Every MotoGP rider picked out a community to which they would dedicate their efforts this weekend in order to boost regional morale and offer support to those affected.

The first qualifying practice was certainly one to lift the spirits, but everything did not go all Rossi's way as Honda V5 new-boy Daijiro Kato showed that as he accustoms himself to his new machine he will become a force to be reckoned with at the top end of the standings, coming in third. Rossi beat Kato, who had led for much of the session along with Barros, with his final lap of the hour, and the Japanese Honda Gresini rider was pushed further back when Rossi's compatriot Max Biaggi stormed past him into second on his Yamaha M1.

Rossi's final time was a new fastest lap of the circuit, inside the record set by Biaggi on his way to pole last year. The reigning World Champion was pleased with his efforts as he remarked, "That last lap was very very good. Barros is very fast and Kato is going very well, very quickly on the RCV. Tomorrow we will work more on settings to give a good race set-up and to ensure a good grid position. I hope for the same weather for Sunday."

With the first three places settled, Sete Gibernau and Suzuki finished off the front row of the grid with a flying last lap, becoming the third manufacturer in the first four. Alex Barros was fifth, despite having ridden superbly throughout the session, while Jeremy McWilliams performed more qualifying heroics as he put his lightweight Proton KR3 into sixth. McCoy was seventh as the third RC211V, that of Tohru Ukawa, came home eighth. Capirossi's return to action saw him in tenth, while Kenny Roberts was not so pleased as his comeback ended with him in the gravel in the final moments of the hour.

The 250 session saw Sebastian Porto within touching distance of taking provisional pole position, as he set the fastest time while crossing the line just a second before the chequered flag was raised for the end of the practice. With one extra lap remaining for both himself and Fonsi Nieto who had been riding alongside him, it was the Spanish Aprilia rider Nieto who took full advantage by setting an even quicker time to put himself into first place, relegating the Argentinean to second. Behind these two came championship leader Marco Melandri, with Toni Elias completing the front-four line-up in the quarter-litre class.

Pablo Nieto came out of the traps quickest in the 125 category on board his Aprilia. Nieto scored some great results earlier in the season including his first podium in Mugello, however since then has failed to reach those heights again. He will hope for his second career pole tomorrow, but will be under increased pressure from a revitalised Dani Pedrosa, who still admitted there were problems with his Honda despite finishing second today. Arnaud Vincent, who has won the last two races, and Simone Sanna completed the provisional front row.

Casey Stoner was 18th quickest in 250 Qualifying. "I am very disappointed not to have gone faster today. Unfortunately we could not find a good suspension setting for this track. Also this is my first time at this track and it is very difficult to learn. Tomorrow I will have to work hard to improve my starting position."