PARIS, 15 May 2004 — Former superbike world champion Colin Edwards took provisional pole in yesterday’s first qualifying for tomorrow’s French MotoGP.
The American was a surprise name at the top of the timesheets, lapping the 4.180 km Bugatti circuit in one minute 33.870 seconds and 0.096 quicker than compatriot and fellow Honda rider Nicky Hayden.
Spain’s Carlos Checa, on a Yamaha, was third quickest to complete the provisional front row on a day when the championship big guns were left behind.
World champion Valentino Rossi, who left Honda for Yamaha during the close season, was seventh quickest with Italian rival Max Biaggi eighth on a Honda. In front of them were Italian Marco Melandri, fourth on a Yamaha, ahead of Honda’s world championship leader Sete Gibernau of Spain. Japanese Makoto Tamada, also on a Honda, finished sixth quickest.
Italy’s Andrea Dovizioso took provisional pole in the 125cc event for Honda when he clocked a time of 1:42.887. Rossi is out to regain the lead in the MotoGP world championship this weekend after losing it for the first time in three years.
For the first time since the Japanese Grand Prix in 2001, Rossi, who left Honda during the close season for rivals Yamaha, does not lead the 500cc or motoGP standings.
Gibernau has 41 points, leading third-placed Rossi by three points with Biaggi second on 40.
