2006 Australian Superbike Championship (YMF Loan) - Round Four - Queensland Raceway

Dorna Day 2 Report

The MotoGP title chase undertook its latest twist this afternoon in qualifying for the bwin.com Grande Premio de Portugal, with both Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden lining up on the front row for tomorrow’s race. There is also added intrigue provided by the presence of both riders’ team-mates in the immediate vicinity, perhaps acting as spoilers as they aim to help their colleagues.

Rossi took pole with a storming time of 1’36.200, taking his first ever front spot in Portugal but his fourth of the 2006 season. He lines up alongside Colin Edwards, who has stated that he will be looking to assist his Camel Yamaha colleague in Estoril.

Nicky Hayden joins the two Yamaha M1s on the front row, and knows that a good start will be essential if he is to prevent title rival Rossi from getting away. Carrying his good form over from his free practice performance this morning, the American wasn’t quite able to catch Rossi and Edwards but is still in a good position at a track where he has yet to finish higher than fourth.

Hayden was also accompanied by his team-mate on the timesheets, although Dani Pedrosa will line up on the second row instead of joining him on the frontline in the battle between the two Japanese factories. On his final flying lap, Casey Stoner had unintentionally impeded his fellow Honda rookie’s progress, and later went into his garage to apologise. Stoner himself was just behind the Spaniard in fifth but ended up with a $1000 fine for his mistake.

John Hopkins completed the top six, ahead of Shinya Nakano and Sete Gibernau. Carlos Checa and Loris Capirossi completed the top ten.

With a rearranged schedule, the bwin.com Grande Premio de Portugal takes place tomorrow at 1pm local time, with the 250cc race at 11:15am and 125cc at 2:30pm (GMT+1).

Roberto Locatelli took his first ever pole position in the 250cc class this afternoon after a stunning final lap of the Estoril Circuit. Going round in 1’41.511, the Team Toth rider and recently crowned best privateer of 2006 snatched the top spot from Hiroshi Aoyama in the dying moments of the quarter-litre qualifying session.

Marco Simoncelli and championship leader Jorge Lorenzo, who this morning crashed after colliding with another rider, complete the front row, with Lorenzo knowing that he only has to finish ahead of Andrea Dovizioso tomorrow to win the 2007 World Championship.

Hector Barbera heads the second row, accompanied by Alex de Angelis, Dovizioso and the surprise of the session, Aleix Espargaro, whilst Shuhei Aoyama and Sylvain Guintoli complete the top ten.

Alvaro Bautista consolidated yesterday’s provisional pole by taking his seventh top spot of the 2006 season in Portugal. The Spaniard was also the only rider to go round in under 1’46, clocking a time of 1’45.322. Team-mate Hector Faubel, Derbi rider Lukas Pesek and KTM’s Julian Simon join the recently crowned World Champion on the front row.

Mattia Pasini, still in with a chance of second spot in the championship, starts the second row, with rival Mika Kallio only able to qualify eleventh. Fabrizio Lai, Tomoyoshi Koyama and Gabor Talmacsi accompany him, ahead of Mike di Meglio and Karel Abraham.