Aug 16: Max Biaggi posted the fastest time in first qualifying to take provisional pole for Sunday`s Czech MotoGP. The Italian Honda rider covered the 5.403km (3.358-mile) Brno circuit in one minute and 59.520 seconds. That put him just ahead of team-mate and compatriot Valentino Rossi, the defending world champion. Rossi, who has won three races this season and leads the overall standings with 187 points, clocked 1:59.708.
Another Italian, Loris Capirossi, on a Ducati, was third with 1:59.739.

Honda`s Tohru Ukawa of Japan was fourth in 2:00.338 and Spain`s Sete Gibernau, who is second in the overall standings - 29 points behind Rossi - had the fifth fastest time.

COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

The final qualifying session, where the riders can improve on their times, will take place on Saturday.

In the 250cc class, Randy De Puniet of France, riding an Aprilia, clocked 2:04.099, beating Italy`s Roberto Rolfo into second. Franco Battaini of Italy finished third.

Spain`s Daniel Pedrosa, riding a Honda, had the fastest time in the 125cc class, ahead of Casey Stoner of Australia, and Italy`s Stefano Perugini, both on Aprilias.

However, Stoner will miss the rest of the weekend after breaking his collarbone and right foot when he crashed trying to set an even faster time.

Bureau Report