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APRILIA CONTENDERS SECURE JAPAN FRONT ROW APRILIA’S world 125 championship challengers Roberto Locatelli and Hector Barbera claimed front row grid positions for tomorrow’s 21-lap Japanese GP. Locatelli hauled himself from fifth on the provisional grid to claim second position in this afternoon’s tough final qualifying session, run in hot and humid conditions at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit. Locatelli was one of only three riders in the top 15 to better their times today, as a four-degree increase in track temperature from yesterday reduced grip levels. Locatelli finished with a best time of 1.58.427s, which was just 0.042s behind the pole time set by world championship rival Andrea Dovizioso. His best was close to 0.5s better than he’d managed yesterday and was only a fraction outside Daniel Pedrosa’s 2002 lap record. The 4.8km Twin Ring Motegi circuit holds fond memories for Locatelli, who clinched his world 125 title with victory here in 2000. Locatelli said: “I am pleased to have done a good job. I have to thank my team because we did a great job from yesterday. We made a big improvement with the bike and it is now working very well. I managed to knock a lot of time off and that speaks volumes for the work the team did. I won my world championship at this track in 2000 and I am hoping to get a good result tomorrow.” Predicting a winner in tomorrow’s race will be no easy task. It is 34 races since a rider in the 125 class claimed successive victories – a run stretching all the way back to the German GP at the Sachsenring in 2002. Spanish teenager Barbera though will be hoping to end that streak to strengthen his bid for the world title. The Estoril winner kept his place on the front row of the grid despite slipping from his provisional third to fourth place in this afternoon’s session. Barbera, who lies second in the world championship standings just 20-points behind Dovizioso, clocked a best time of 1.59.416s. That was 0.7s slower than he’d managed in Friday’s opening session. Barbera, who a year ago celebrated victory at the Twin Ring Motegi, said: “The track conditions were different which didn’t help the times but I’m happy to be on the front row.” Weather forecasts for tomorrow predict fine conditions. Light rain fell in the closing stages of final qualifying today, but more hot and humid weather is predicted for the race, which will be round 12 of the 2004 world championship.
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