There was little change from their free practice positions for Team San Carlo Honda Gresini riders Alvaro Bautista and Michele Pirro today as they qualified on the third and fifth row of the grid for tomorrow's Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island. Michele finished the session fourteenth fastest, seven places behind his team-mate Alvaro, who has a good race pace and is hopeful of gaining positions when the lights go out tomorrow afternoon. Michele, meanwhile, will be aiming to maintain his position as the third CRT on the grid and in the current championship standings with two races to go.
Alvaro Bautista (7th 1’ 31” 490)
“We continued to work on the setting of the bike this morning without making major improvements from yesterday. In the afternoon we did some laps on used tyres and the pace was decent. On new tyres we were able to go a little faster and we were hoping to make at least a position up on the last outing and get on the second row but it started to rain and I had to settle for sixth place. Anyway I am confident because my race pace is good and apart from Stoner, who is on another planet, and maybe Lorenzo and Pedrosa who are also very fast we can match the others and fight for fourth or fifth place again. The start will be important then after that we'll see!”
Michele Pirro (14th 1’ 33” 050)
“I think being the third fastest CRT bike today behind the two ARTs was about the best we could hope for today although I am not totally happy because I was hoping to break into the 1’ 32s and even though we were close we didn't manage it. We still have some movement on the rear that we need to fix because it is slowing me down in corner exit. Anyway, I am confident that in the warm-up the guys will find some solutions and then I am sure in the race the tyres will play a huge role. I'm ready to defend my positions as the third highest CRT in the championship.”
Fausto Gresini
“It is a shame that Alvaro wasn't able to break the second row today and the rain at the end was a real blow for us because he didn't get chance to make the most of the new tyre on his last exit. Anyway, his race pace is good and so I think he can have a decent race. I'm also optimistic about Michele's chances because once again he has show to be the third fastest CRT.”
San Carlo Honda Gresini Press Release
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