DOHA, 2 October 2004 — Carlos Checa took pole position for today’s inaugural Qatar Grand Prix with the quickest lap in the final qualifying session yesterday.
The Yamaha rider set a time of one minute 58.988 in searing heat at the Losail circuit, 0.131 seconds ahead of Brazil’s Alex Barros, who will line up second on the grid for the first MotoGP race in the Middle East.
“I’ve waited for a long time and so I’m going to enjoy it, said Checa, who last started from pole position in Portugal two years ago. “I’m confident of a good result.”
Checa’s fellow Spaniard Sete Gibernau, who needs a good result this weekend to keep alive his hopes of taking the world title from Valentino Rossi, was third fastest to round out the front row.
“There are two really striking things about this grand prix — firstly the heat and secondly the dust on the track,” said Gibernau.
“After two tough GPs I am enjoying myself again on the bike and even though it will be a long, tough race, the rhythm we have should give us a chance of fighting for a good result.”
Italian Rossi, who has a 39-point advantage over Gibernau in the title race with four races to go, had a problem with the tires on his Yamaha and will line up in the third row after finishing eighth fastest.
“Starting from the third row will make life difficult tomorrow as it will be hard to overtake,” said Rossi, who is chasing a fourth straight title in the top class of grand prix motorcycling.
Barros clocked the second fastest time of 1:59.119 to gatecrash the front row. His fastest time came on his last lap and in the process he knocked his Honda factory teammate Nicky Hayden off the front row.
“At my age and at my time in the championship it’s hard to find a new track, but I’m happy to be here,” said Barros, who turns 34 next month.
Argentine Sebastien Porto grabbed pole in the 250cc class, while Spain’s Jorge Lorenzo will lead off the 125cc race.
