MotoGP 2006 - Round Three

With overcast skies holding out for the MotoGP riders at Mugello, all three of today’s qualifying practices for the Gran Premio d’Italia Alice took place in the dry in front of a boisterous Italian crowd.

Sete Gibernau took pole at the Mugello Circuit, and will head a Ducati one-two on the grid for the Gran Premio d’Italia Alice tomorrow afternoon. The Spaniard knocked two tenths off Valentino Rossi’s 2005 pole time, and his 1’48.969 lap puts him alongside team-mate Loris Capirossi for his first pole at his team’s home circuit.

Rossi completes the front row, out for his fifth win in as many seasons at the Italian track. The reigning World Champion needs a win in Mugello in his quest to retain the crown, hoping to close the 43 point gap between him and championship leader Nicky Hayden. The American rider himself will line up on front of the second row, ahead of Shinya Nakano and second in the standings Marco Melandri.

Continuing his positive run of qualifying form, John Hopkins was just outside the top six, with Dani Pedrosa behind him after claiming pole in the previous two races. Casey Stoner and Makoto Tamada completed the top ten.

Nicky Hayden maintains his lead of the BMW M Award, the competition for the fastest overall times in qualifying sessions over the duration of the season. There is nearly a three second cushion between him and Colin Edwards, with Suzuki riders Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen two seconds behind.

The Gran Premio d’Italia Alice will start tomorrow with the 125cc race at 11am local time, followed by 250cc at 12.15pm and the eagerly anticipated MotoGP clash of the titans at 2pm CET.

Jorge Lorenzo will start at the head of the 250cc grid tomorrow for the fourth time this season, aiming to get back to winning ways at the Gran Premio d’Italia Alice. The Majorcan rider put in a lap of 1’53.787 to put him ahead of Yuki Takahashi and the resurgent Roberto Locatelli, who continues to impress for Team Toth. Alex de Angelis completes the front row.

Behind them on row two will be Championship leader Andrea Dovizioso, Marco Simoncelli, Hector Barbera and Jakub Smrz, who yesterday earned his first provisional pole, and was baulked twice on consecutive laps as he looked set to snatch his first full pole position.

Lukas Pesek earned the first pole position of his 125cc career in Mugello. The Czech rider broke the previous circuit record by more than half a second, as he put himself ahead of Mattia Pasini, Hector Faubel and Fabrizio Lai.

The second row will consist of Championship leader Alvaro Bautista, Pablo Nieto, Gabor Talmacsi and Mika Kallio.

Pole position, Sete Gibernau (Ducati), 1'48.969 :
"This is a very special moment. I know it's only qualifying but I still count this as my first victory with Ducati. I really needed something like this because it confirms that Ducati and Bridgestone were the best choice for me. Also, they believe in me and are giving me the best shot I've ever had in this championship. I'd like to dedicate this pole to everyone at Ducati, both here in the team and back at the factory, because they always give it everything they've got. Bridgestone are amazing too, because they're giving me incredible support. Pole is important but maybe more important than that is the way these guys work with me - they treat me better than I've ever been treated before, so a big thanks to them."