BARROS ON TOP AFTER EXCITING FIRST DAY AT SACHSENRING
29 July 2005 - DORNA COMMUNICATIONS

Alex Barros set the fastest time despite crashing twice on an incident-packed first day of the Alice Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland at the Sachsenring.

Within the space of fifteen minutes of the afternoon session the Brazilian had dropped both his Honda RC211V machines in the final two corners of the notoriously tricky circuit, where Valentino Rossi had also tested the gravel traps with only his second crash of the year in the morning’s opening session. However, Barros’ fastest time of 1’23.808 after just seven laps remained untouched and he tops the overnight time sheets ahead of tomorrow’s qualifying session.

“I’m a little disappointed about the two crashes but not too much because I am still very happy with the job we have done,” said Barros, who holds the circuit record here with a time of 1’24.056 set in last year’s race. “This morning the team gave me a bike that was very competitive and the first crash was probably caused by a little too much enthusiasm from myself over the first few laps. The second one is more difficult to explain because I wasn’t pushing at all. Anyway I’m fine, I didn’t hurt myself at all and I’m really looking forward to tomorrow.”

Rossi was unhurt in his crash but his confidence was clearly damaged as he stuttered to the thirteenth fastest time at a circuit he yesterday claimed was “one of my worst.” Rubén Xaus and John Hopkins also crashed in the afternoon, with the American unable to build on the sixth fastest time in the morning and eventually dropping to twelfth overall. Xaus, meanwhile, ended the day in 19th place.

Sete Gibernau bounced back from the disappointment of crashing out of the lead at Donington Park five days ago to set the second fastest time in both of today’s sessions. After trailing Nicky Hayden by 0.207 seconds in the morning Gibernau was exactly one tenth closer to Barros’ best effort in the afternoon as he chases a repeat of his victory at this circuit two years ago. Fellow Spaniard Carlos Checa was also on form, lapping fourth fastest in the morning and third fastest in the afternoon on the Ducati as he prepares to make the 150th Grand Prix start of his career.

Nicky Hayden was unable to improve his lap times in the searing afternoon heat, with ambient temperatures reaching 32ºC and 43ºC recorded on the track surface. However, the American held on to third place overall as he looks to repeat his podium finish from last season and return to the form that saw him take his debut victory less than a month ago at Laguna Seca. Elsewhere, Olivier Jacque made his return to competitive action for Kawasaki and lapped 15th fastest, two places ahead of his team-mate and local favourite Alex Hofmann.

The first qualifying practices for the 250cc and 125cc classes also took place today, with Alex de Angelis clinching provisional pole for the quarter-litre race with a time of 1’25.272. The San Marino rider is joined on the provisional front row by Jorge Lorenzo, who set the pace in the morning free practice, Dani Pedrosa and Sebastián Porto – the first two men across the line in last year’s race. Casey Stoner, who lies 34 points adrift of Pedrosa in second place in the championship, qualified sixth fastest.

Mattia Pasini shook off the disappointment of his crash on the warm-up lap for the second part of a split 125cc race at Donington Park last week to set provisional pole for Sunday’s opening event. The Italian, who is joint leader of the series with Gabor Talmacsi, clocked a time of 1’28.808 to hold off the challenge of Mika Kallio by 0.133 seconds. Marco Simoncelli and Tomoyoshi Koyama complete the provisional front row whilst Talmacsi qualified seventh fastest.

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