2005 Moto GP Preseason Guide

[G.Irish]

The GSV-R is starting to show little sparks of speed but I'd hate to see Hopper waste several years of his career trying to develop a piece of crap bike.

And without further adieu, qualifying results:

1 Valentino Rossi Gauloises Yamaha Team Yamaha YZR-M1 1:39.419
2 Sete Gibernau Team Movistar Honda Honda RC211V 1:39.915
3 Marco Melandri Team Movistar Honda Honda RC211V 1:40.179
4 Nicky Hayden Repsol Honda Team Honda RC211V 1:40.465
5 Shinya Nakano Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR 1:40.542
6 Loris Capirossi Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati Desmosedici GP-5 1:40.648
7 Makoto Tamada JIR Konica Minolta Honda Honda RC211V 1:40.707
8 Alex Barros Camel Honda Honda RC211V 1:40.720
9 Troy Bayliss Camel Honda Honda RC211V 1:40.774
10 Alex Hofmann Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR 1:40.812
11 John Hopkins Team Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki GSV-R 1:40.825
12 Carlos Checa Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati Desmosedici GP-5 1:40.948
13 Toni Elias Fortuna Yamaha Team Yamaha YZR- M1 1:41.029
14 Kenny Roberts Jnr. Team Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki GSV-R 1:41.058
15 Colin Edwards Gauloises Yamaha Team Yamaha YZR-M1 1:41.176
16 Max Biaggi Repsol Honda Team Honda RC211V 1:41.233
17 Ruben Xaus Fortuna Yamaha Team Yamaha YZR-M1 1:42.286
18 Roberto Rolfo D'antin Ducati Ducati Desmosedici GP-4 1:43.523
19 Franco Battaini Blata WCM Blata 1:44.576
20 Shane Byrne Team Roberts/KTM Proton/KTM 1:44.728

The big surprises are Biaggi and Edwards being so far down. Edwards attributed it to not being used to the rear grip of the qualifying tire (which caused a huge disparity with the grip in front) but Biaggi offered no explanation. Team Suzuki struggled with traffic and conditions and thus didn't land in qualifying where they wanted.