The Monster Yamaha Tech3 duo of Ben Spies and Colin Edwards will start tomorrows San Marino Grand Prix in fifth and seventh respectively after putting in another competitive qualifying performance, with Spies once again being the highest placed satellite rider. Thanks to some front end tweeks, worked out from the mornings practice session to narrowly miss out on another front row start by 0.075s.
“We made some changes to the bike overnight that didn’t really help this morning and then made more changes before qualifying and they made a big improvement. Everything went smooth and it was a good qualifying session.” said Spies after the session. “The first goal is to be on the second row at least and I’ve done that, but I think I should have had another front row. I got caught up with Capirossi and that was a little annoying. I wasn’t too upset at the time because I didn’t think it would be a front row lap, but looking back I was on my best lap and I’m pretty sure I would be sitting on the outside of the front row.”
“But I’m a lot happier and more confident with the bike than I was this morning and I know we can make some more changes to make us stronger for the race. We can make the bike easier to ride towards the end of the race and I’m looking forward to it. My confidence is really high after the last couple of races and there’s no reason why I can’t be challenging for a top position again tomorrow.”
Colin Edwards is growing in confidence after last weekend’s disappointment, and in using a setup similar to the one used in Brno, the American is in good shape to get a good points haul, after coming fourth in morning free practice and seventh in quali. “I’ve felt good on the bike all weekend and I really felt I had the speed to get on the second row, but de Puniet just got sixth from me by less than a tenth.” said Edwards.
“But I’m happy with the way things have been going this weekend. As the temperature came up today it felt like I was pushing the front a bit but I know we can make a minor adjustment to fix that and my race pace has been pretty strong all weekend. I doubt I can do mid-34s the whole race but I think a top six is definitely within my grasp. After what happened last year I just want to make it through the first corner and at least get the chance to put up a fight. But there’s no reason why the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team shouldn’t have a double top six finish tomorrow and that would be a great result.”
