MotoGP : Yamaha Factory Racing face Sunday challenge at Valencia

MotoGP : Yamaha Factory Racing face Sunday challenge at Valencia Round: 17 - MotoGP Valencia Circuit: Valencia Date: 5 November 2005 Temp: 19ºC Weather: Sunny Rossi's Yamaha Factory team-mate Colin Edwards benefited from a more productive afternoon, making major progress with his new riding style and knocking almost two seconds off his best practice time from yesterday. For the second successive race the American will start from the second row of the grid in sixth place as he aims to improve his championship position with a good finish tomorrow. Pole position went to Sete Gibernau (Honda) in a new record time of 1'31.874 and the Spaniard is joined on the front row by Marco Melandri and Nicky Hayden (both Honda), who will fight for the runner-up spot behind Rossi in the championship in tomorrow's race. Colin Edwards (Yamaha Factory Team), 6th - 1'32.456 "I'm halfway happy with the result. We had a few problems early in the session but we worked things out and I was able to set a decent time on a qualifying tyre. The second row isn't terrible but we have work to do to find a better race pace. We made more progress with the new riding style but in reality I need 100 laps to perfect it, so I can't wait for winter testing! It takes me five or six laps to get going and we just need to get it ingrained in my system. The team has worked hard today and Michelin has given us some good options for tomorrow - I am determined to finish the season on a high. The stadium style atmosphere here is always fantastic so I'm looking forward to tomorrow." Valentino Rossi (Yamaha Factory Team), 15th - 1'33.503 "When I crashed I was pushing hard with the qualifying tyre and honestly I felt confident that I could do a good time. I was maybe a little too aggressive and when I touched the brake I just lost the front and went down. I was going fast and I have some small bruises on my elbow and on my leg, but I will be fine tomorrow for the race. I was lucky. The grid position is not so good, my worst for a very long time! The situation on the track is actually not so bad; the rhythm is okay, although we do have some problems and for sure I am slower than some of the other riders. The main problem is that it's hard to overtake at this circuit. A lot will depend on how many riders I can pass at the start and in the first lap. Anyway, we will try to make some progress tomorrow morning and see what happens in the race. My target is to be in the top five, any higher is maybe too difficult, but it's going to be a good battle!" Davide Brivio - Yamaha Factory Team director "We are in a strange situation. Colin is on the second row but his race pace is not as good as we would like, whilst Valentino is on the fifth row with a better race pace than his team-mate. We need to combine the two! Valentino's starting position is going to make it very difficult for him and it will not be his easiest race, but that is the reality of the situation and we have to deal with it. Luckily we have already won everything but we still want to have a good last race. It's going to be tough but we'll work hard in the morning and see what the race brings." Toni Elias (Fortuna Yamaha Team), 13th - 1'33.005 "This morning I had a spectacular crash without getting any injuries. Unfortunately this afternoon we did not have the same pace as in the morning session. Throughout the day we've been working with a full fuel tank and a race tyre and we've got a good pace even though we do not have a top position. This will make the race more difficult for me but I hope I will have a good start and will be able to get in touch with the top group as fast as I can." Ruben Xaus (Fortuna Yamaha Team), 17th - 1'34.874 "It's hard to do things right when you're in a difficult situation like now, but I'm not looking for excuses. I'm working hard to get a good feeling and the bike itself is working fine. Tomorrow I hope to find a good rhythm and to score some points."    Round: 17 - MotoGP Valencia Circuit: Valencia Circuit Length: 4005 Lap Record: 1' 33.317 (Valentino Rossi, 2003) Fastest Lap Ever: 1' 31.874 (Sete Gibernau, 2005) Date: 5 November 2005 Temp: 19ºC Session 1 :  Pos.  Rider  Manufacturer  Nat.  1st Qualifying 1  S. Gibernau  Honda  ESP   1' 31.874   2  M. Melandri  Honda  ITA   1' 32.111   3  N. Hayden  Honda  USA   1' 32.217   4  C. Checa  Ducati  ESP   1' 32.374   5  M. Biaggi  Honda  ITA   1' 32.384   6  C. Edwards  Yamaha  USA   1' 32.456   7  L. Capirossi  Ducati  ITA   1' 32.482   8  A. Barros  Honda  BRA   1' 32.518   9  S. Nakano  Kawasaki  JPN   1' 32.663   10  M. Tamada  Honda  JPN   1' 32.682   11  J. Hopkins  Suzuki  USA   1' 32.785   12  A. Hofman  Kawasaki  GER   1' 32.966   13  T. Elias  Yamaha  ESP   1' 33.005   14  N. Aoki  Suzuki  JPN   1' 33.393   15  V. Rossi  Yamaha  ITA   1' 33.503   16  R. Kiyonari  Honda  JPN   1' 33.846   17  R. Xaus  Yamaha  ESP   1' 34.874