Montmeló, 13 June: the LCR Honda MotoGP Team rider Randy De Puniet got the third row for tomorrows 25-lap race at the hot Montmeló circuit which hosts the sixth round of the season. The Frenchman riding the Honda RC212V nr. 14 made 27 laps in total in this afternoon qualifying session clocking his quickest time of 1’43.175 on lap 17 and missed the second row start by less than 0.007s. 

The 60-minute qualifying session was held in very hot conditions as air temperature rose up to 38°C (52°C on the asphalt) making the day harder for tyres and riders. Thanks to the right set up of his Honda machinery De Puniet was again a strong performer in this morning second free session gaining the 5th place on race trim at the 4.727 km track. The Spaniard rider Lorenzo on Yamaha topped the timesheets today with a 1’41.974 lap time followed by Rossi and Stoner on Ducati.

De Puniet –7 th – 1’43.175

De Puniet: - 7th: “I am a bit disappointed because we have been expecting the second row. I had the potential to get it but found some slower riders in the last laps loosing some tenths as my ideal time is half second faster than this. However we are really pleased with our race set up and our race lap times. A second row start could make my life easier but I feel confident for tomorrow’s race. I must take a good start overtaking a couple of riders in the first lap to catch the front group”.


Qualifying Practices:

1        Lorenzo – (1’41.974)
2        Rossi – (1’41.987)
3        Stoner – (1’42.426)
4        Dovizioso – (1’42.594)
5        Elias – (1’43.139)
6        Edwards – (1’43.168)
7        De Puniet – (1’43.175)
8        Pedrosa – (1’43.207)
9        Toseland – (1’43.233)
10      Kallio – (1’43.336)
11      Capirossi – (1’43.365)
12      Vermeulen – (1’43.411)
13      Hayden  – (1’43.414)
14      De Angelis – (1’43.422)
15      Gibernau – (1’43.714)
16      Takahashi – (1’43.777)
17      Melandri – (1’43.792)
18      Canepa – (1’43.991)
19      Talmacsi – (1’45.833)