MotoGP 2005 Qualifying

Ducati Marlboro Team riders Loris Capirossi and Carlos Checa will line up eighth and 11th respectively on the grid for Sunday's 30-lap Sachsenring MotoGP race, after an incredibly close qualifying session saw the top fourteen riders lap within one second of pole position.
In the timed session Carlos suffered a massive highside crash the exit of the fastest corner of the circuit, curtailing his plans to improve his grid position still further. Such was the speed of the crash that Checa and his machine slid all the way to the bottom of the long drop at the rear section of the circuit. He was largely uninjured in the fall, despite his high impact speed and a long slide on the tarmac. Nicky Hayden took pole on his Honda, with Sete Gibernau and Alex Barros also on the front row.

"I think we must be positive because with race tyre Carlos was setting 1'23 laps and he also made good tests for tyre durability and endurance," said Ducati MotoGP Project Manager Livio Suppo. "Loris is also very satisfied with the new tyres, so we must be happy for the big improvements made in dry track conditions. Normally we would expect better in terms of our qualifying positions but Carlos had a big crash and we are lucky that he is not injured, as he fell in the worst possible place to crash. Loris made a very good job. He is only three tenths from the leader - yet he is on the third row! This track is unbelievable, but we are positive about tomorrow."

Capirossi was deprived of one last chance to improve his grid position in qualifying but knows that his race set-up is in good shape for the 30-lap race.

"I have made more or less 15 laps on race tyres and we are in not bad condition," stated Capirossi. "With the first qualifying tyres I was fast but on the second set I had some problems with traffic and I was not able to improve my grid position. I am confident about the race because things are looking better here than most recent races. There will be many riders packed together in the early part and 30 laps is a lot around here. I hope it will not rain, as it will be more fun for everyone in the dry. Even if it rains I am still confident because our Bridgestone rain tyres are very good in these conditions. The start will be very important as it is vital to get to the front of the race early when so many riders have set such similar times."

Checa's high-speed crash conspired to put him on the fourth row of the grid for his 150th GP start in the premier class, thanks to an 11th place finish on the time sheets. On race tyres, Checa knows that he has shown himself to be one of the fastest riders.

"I have a little bit of pain in my back but I should be OK. Sometimes you lose traction in that downhill area on qualifying tyres but suddenly the rear just came round and I could not control it, although I tried very hard to. I am lucky to be OK, and for the race I think we have a good pace. It's a shame we have to start so far back on the grid but I will try as hard as possible to follow that top group. The race is quite long and we have good race pace, so we will see if we can use it early enough to make up a lot of places."

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