Qualifying for the Grand Prix of Malaysia proved to be a tough challenge for Yamaha Factory Racing rider Ben Spies today at the Sepang International Circuit. The Texan’s injuries sustained in Australia continue to hamper his abilities to ride to the limit. As a result Spies crashed in both the morning practice and afternoon qualifying session, finally taking 16th place on the grid for tomorrow’s race.
Katsuyuki Nakasuga made a step forward today, Jorge’s replacement rider getting more familiar with his bike and team as the weekend progresses. Nakasuga-san wrapped up qualifying 2.6 seconds from pole, over two seconds closer to the fastest rider than yesterday. He will start tomorrow’s race from 17th on the grid, behind his temporary team mate Spies.
Ben Spies
Position 16th – Time 2.03.678
“It’s been a pretty eventful weekend. The bike is working really well but I’m just not feeling 100% and ready to get it over and done with. Qualifying was tough, we went out there and experienced a crash, I’m not sure why yet but we’ll check the data later. We don’t have a great position on the grid but we’ll do the best we can for points to try and hold on to fifth place for the Championship.”
Katsuyuki Nakasuga
Position 17th – Time 2.04.072
“This morning’s session was quite positive for me. I had a good feeling and found a rhythm on the track which was very motivating. Tomorrow I will try my best for a good position. The bike set up is working well so I am feeling confident for my first ever MotoGP race.”
Wilco Zeelenberg – Yamaha Factory Racing Team Manager
“This is a completely different experience to last year where we won the Championship here. Now we are second last and last on the grid. I think Nakasuga-san did a good job today, his lap time was a lot better than yesterday and he didn’t crash so he did well. He has to learn a lot but we are now approaching it the right way. He’s improving so let’s see how he gets on tomorrow. It’s going to be a long hot race, he looks good in a group so hopefully he can stay up there with some of the pack and fight with them until the end.”
Massimo Meregalli – Yamaha Factory Racing Team Director
“It is a very tough and strange weekend for us. Ben is trying very hard; he’s putting in all he can. We have to consider what is best for him tomorrow so we will have a meeting tonight and make a decision for the race. Nakasuga made good improvements today with consistency, he has definitely made a step from yesterday and we know he will do his best during the race tomorrow.”
Edwards storms to season best qualifying at sizzling Sepang
Colin Edwards flew the flag for Yamaha in tremendous style at the Sepang International Circuit today, the American showcasing his skill and vast experience to claim a fantastic fourth place on the grid for the 20-lap Malaysian Grand Prix.
A fastest lap of 2.02.010 was over 0.4s faster than his best practice pace on the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 YZR-M1 machine and secured the popular 37-year-old his best grid position since he qualified in fourth position at the Valencia round in 2008.
Fine-tuning the set-up he worked on during two winter test sessions at the long and technical Sepang circuit, Edwards was able to find crucial tenths with improved turning performance and better rear grip in searing hot conditions this afternoon.
Temperatures once again peaked at over 30 degrees but it was the punishing humidity that tested his physical stamina and concentration to the limit. It was a challenge Edwards rose to in brilliant fashion and he was only 0.344s from claiming a sensational front row, as he comfortably outpaced a host of riders on factory-supported machinery.
Today’s qualifying session also had a positive outcome for hard-charging British rider Cal Crutchlow, who will start from his best grid position since the Laguna Seca round in late July.
The 25-year-old’s hard work to improve rear grip on the slippery Sepang surface paid off handsomely and he was able to knock 1.2s off his best time from yesterday in this morning’s third and final session.
A brilliant attack on Bridgestone’s soft compound rear tyre then saw him lower his pace to a 2.02.756, which secured him a superb 10th place.
Colin Edwards
Position 4th – Time 2.02.010 – Laps 20
“I’m ecstatic with that result because to get a fourth place in any session against this level of competition is a pretty big achievement. I said yesterday that we rolled the bike out of the crate hot and today I felt even more confident. Usually I have a really good couple of tests in February and then come back for the race and I have an awful time. But with this year’s chassis I’m really enjoying this track. We’ve barely moved away from the setting we left the second test with in February and the bike feels awesome. I’m pushing hard but I don’t feel like I’m right on the limit like I have in some races and it relatively easy. I can ride smooth and the bike is turning really well. We’d like more traction, but in this heat and humidity the grip is always going to be the thing that’s missing. I’m not far off the front row but I didn’t leave anything out there. The lap I did my best time on, I took a couple of risks, so I couldn’t have done any better. Fourth is my best qualifying result since Valencia in 2008. That seems like a long, long time ago, so it would be great to follow today up with a top five result tomorrow and send my awesome Monster Yamaha Tech 3 crew home happy.”
Cal Crutchlow
Position 10th – Time 2.02.756 – Laps 20
“I’m much happier today and I want to say a big thanks to my Monster Yamaha Tech 3 crew because they’ve worked really hard to improve my feeling on the bike. We definitely made some progress today and the bike was turning better and the rear grip was improved as well. It is going to be a long and tough race in the heat but also the track isn’t in fantastic condition, so we’ll be sliding around a lot at the end. The surface feels really greasy and it will be a case of who can keep the best grip for the longest but I’m confident we’ve got a good set-up. We’ll try a couple of small changes to try and improve the bike in the warm-up and if we can gain a bit extra then I’m sure I can be fighting for the top 10 tomorrow. Colin did an amazing job today to take fourth. He’s doing Yamaha proud without Jorge being here and Ben obviously riding in a lot of pain, so if anything he’s getting faster as he gets older!”
2011 MotoGP Malaysia
Sepang 22/10/2011
1 Daniel Pedrosa Honda ESP 2’01.462
2 Casey Stoner Honda AUS 2’01.491
3 Andrea Dovizioso Honda ITA 2’01.666
4 Colin Edwards Yamaha USA 2’02.010
5 Marco Simoncelli Honda ITA 2’02.105
6 Nicky Hayden Ducati USA 2’02.172
7 Hiroshi Aoyama Honda JPN 2’02.254
8 Alvaro Bautista Suzuki ESP 2’02.332
9 Valentino Rossi Ducati ITA 2’02.395
10 Cal Crutchlow Yamaha GBR 2’02.756
11 Randy De Puniet Ducati FRA 2’02.939
12 Loris Capirossi Ducati ITA 2’03.077
13 Karel Abraham Ducati CZE 2’03.438
14 Hector Barbera Ducati ESP 2’03.619
15 Toni Elias Honda ESP 2’03.646
16 Ben Spies Yamaha USA 2’03.678
17 Katsuyuki Nakasuga Yamaha JPN 2’04.072
Circuit Length:
5548
Weather:
Dry
Lap Record:
2’02.993
(Nicky Hayden, 1/1/2005)
Fastest Lap Ever:
2’00.518
(Valentino Rossi, 10/25/2009)
Last Years Winner:
Valentino Rossi
