"I know I can go quicker," warns Rossi.
Valentino Rossi will take little comfort from today's first qualifying practice for the elite 500cc class despite controlling the session from start to finish. His best time of 1min 35.434secs is likely to be bettered tomorrow barring adverse weather conditions.
Max Biaggi was one of the riders who struggled to adapt to the twisty track today, a gravel excursion early in the session setting the tone for an afternoon of frustration for the Italian, who failed to make an impression on the top four spots.
Valentino Rossi will take little comfort from today's first qualifying practice for the elite 500cc class despite controlling the session from start to finish. His best time of 1min 35.434secs is likely to be bettered tomorrow barring adverse weather conditions.
Max Biaggi was one of the riders who struggled to adapt to the twisty track today, a gravel excursion early in the session setting the tone for an afternoon of frustration for the Italian, who failed to make an impression on the top four spots.
Rossi's position at the top of the time sheets was never in real danger, although Alex Barros and Loris Capirossi did eventually close in on the Italian to take second and third positions respectively. Sete Gibernau made the most of recent improvements made to his Suzuki to join the Honda machines on the front row of the provisional grid.
"Today's qualifying wasn't so bad," said Rossi. "We worked on the setting, the tyres and the suspension but we're not at 100% yet and we'll try tomorrow to make things a little better. I'm sure that with a little hard work we can get the time down to below 1min 34secs."
"We're okay so far, testing here has given us an edge but the others are already catching us," added the Italian. "I expected to go faster at the end of today's session but I wasn't able to, probably because the front tyre we had was a little too used. I'm happy, and if the sun shines again tomorrow, I know I can go quicker."
Ukawa had a consistent session and eventually set the fifth fastest lap to head the second row just in front of Biaggi in sixth. Roberts also set constant times and lines up in seventh place ahead of McCoy, who thrilled onlookers and frightened the life out of his pit garage with some typically wild rear tyre sliding manoeuvres.
Spaniard Checa was pushed out to ninth position, and leads a third row which also features the Japanese trio of Abe, Nakano and Haga in that order. Criville crashed in the morning session but was able to ride in the afternoon and eventually qualified in thirteenth.
