THREE R6S PROVISIONAL FRONT ROW AT RAINY QATAR
23 February 2006 - Yamaha Racing

Yamaha riders occupied three of the top four places in today''s wet first qualifying session for Saturday''s opening round of the Supersport World Championship.

Round: 1 - Qatar
Circuit: Losail Circuit
Date: 23 February 2006
Temp: 19ºC
Weather: Wet

With rain falling just before the start of the 45-minute session, riders remained cautious in the wet and humid conditions - valuing circuit and machine time ahead of ultimate speed. Despite taking it easy, Yamaha Motor Germany''s Kevin Curtain found himself at the top of the leader board until the dying moments of the session, when young Turkish rider Kenan Sofuoglu (Honda) pushed hard to set a time almost two seconds quicker than his opponents.

Curtain remained second by the chequered flag with another R6 rider, Gianluca Nannelli of the new Kopron Edo Racing squad third. Curtain''s team-mate Broc Parkes completed the provisional front row on a promising start to what will be the third generation YZF-R6''s first competitive race meeting.

Final qualifying for Saturday''s race takes place tomorrow and, with improved weather forecast, today''s times are expected to be irrelevant in deciding the final grid.

Round: 1 - Qatar
Circuit: Losail Circuit
Circuit Length: 5380
Lap Record: 2'' 4.686 (Sebastien Charpentier, 2005)
Fastest Lap Ever: 2'' 3.747 (Sebastien Charpentier, 2005)
Date: 23 February 2006
Temp: 19ºC

Session 1 :
Pos. Rider Manufacturer Nat. 1st Qualifying
1 K. Sofuoglu Honda TUR 2'' 21.890
2 K. Curtain Yamaha AUS 2'' 23.872
3 G. Nannelli Yamaha ITA 2'' 24.021
4 B. Parkes Yamaha AUS 2'' 24.757
5 K. Andersen Suzuki NOR 2'' 25.853
6 M. Sanchini Yamaha ITA 2'' 26.670
7 B. Veneman Suzuki NED 2'' 26.770
8 X. Fores Yamaha ESP 2'' 26.887
9 C. Zaiser Ducati AUT 2'' 26.945
10 K. Fujiwara Honda JPN 2'' 27.615
11 G. Vizziello Yamaha ITA 2'' 27.690
12 S. Charpentier Honda FRA 2'' 27.755
13 A. Gobert Yamaha AUS 2'' 28.284
14 J. Brookes Ducati AUS 2'' 28.508
15 D. Thomas Kawasaki AUS 2'' 28.542
16 D. Garcia Yamaha ITA 2'' 28.596
20 M. Roccoli Yamaha ITA 2'' 29.666
23 A. Velini Yamaha ITA 2'' 30.150
24 C. Peris Yamaha CAN 2'' 30.164
26 V. Ivanov Yamaha RUS 2'' 30.250
27 D. Van Keymeulen Yamaha BEL 2'' 30.832

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