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MotoGP
2005 - Round 12 - Motegi MotoGP Qualifying - Westy Report September 17th, 2005
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MotoGP
2005 - Round 12 - Motegi MotoGP Qualifying - Westy Report September 17th, 2005
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| Australian motorcycle
rider Ant West was slowed by a fuel problem in qualifying at
the Motegi circuit today and will start 14th on the grid in
tomorrow's 250cc Japanese Grand Prix. West's factory Red Bull KTM stopped on his 16th lap in the closing stages of the second and final qualifying session because it had no fuel. There was insufficient time for the 24-year-old Gold Coast rider to take any further part in the session after his machine stopped. His best lap of the session was 1-min 53.970-secs, set on his ninth lap, and it left him 14th fastest in qualifying for the 11th round of the 250cc world championship. West, who is making his fourth race start on KTM's new 250, had been 11th in yesterday's opening qualifying session. He rode a total of 78 laps in the two practice and two qualifying sessions yesterday and today on the 4.8km Motegi track. Japan's Hiroshi Aoyama claimed pole position on a Telefonica MoviStar Honda, ahead of Jorge Lorenzo on a Fortuna Honda. West has made a total of 82 grand prix starts in the 125cc, 250cc, and 500cc classes since 1998. He has five top-three podium finishes in the 250cc class, including one victory, in the Dutch Grand Prix at Assen in 2003. ANT WEST QUOTES: "I ran out of fuel in qualifying. I came out of the pits with a new rear tyre and was planning to do a couple of 'hot' laps to get further up the grid. Unfortunately it didn't happen. It was disappointing because on the lap I stopped I'd done my quickest time through the first section and I think I could have done a faster (lap) time." "I'm going to race with the 130-degree firing order engine we tested at Brno (Czech Republic) after the last race. It makes the bike smoother and easier to ride through the corners, and I can get on the throttle better. The grip is good on the front and rear with this engine. I've been changing gearboxes here, and we've found one that works for the whole track. I think I can race better than my qualifying position, but I'm down on straight-line speed compared to the other factory bikes and that won't help on the long straights. Hopefully I can make a good start and stay with the guys in front of me."
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MotoGP Championship
2005
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