PHILLIP ISLAND, Australia, 16 October 2004 - Italian Valentino Rossi, closing in on a fourth consecutive premier race world title, grabbed provisional pole after initial qualifying at the Australian MotoGP here yesterday.
Rossi clocked a fastest lap of one minute 30.222 seconds for the 4.448 kilometer (2.764 mile) Phillip Island circuit. The Yamaha rider was 0.378 seconds in advance of championship rival Sete Gibernau of Spain on a Honda who clocked 1:30.600.
Rossi needs only to finish in the first two podium places in tomorrow’s penultimate season GP to claim his fourth MotoGP 500cc world title ahead of the season-ending race in Valencia in a fortnight.
“I did a very good lap today, so I’m pleased to have that under my belt,” Rossi said. “This morning was important because we also went very well in the wet and in the dry the bike also feels good.
Should Rossi wrap up the championship here he will become only the second rider to win consecutive world titles with different manufacturers -- Honda last year and his current Yamaha -- and claim a record of five previous wins (three premier and two 250cc) on the island circuit.
Rossi is bidding for his fourth consecutive win at Phillip Island and leads Gibernau by 30 points with Italy’s Honda rider Max Biaggi third in the championship and out of calculations some 66 points adrift of Rossi.
Rossi is also aiming for his 100th podium finish in 139 starts in the three different classes of GP racing. Only five riders in the 56-year history of GP racing have more podium finishes than Rossi -- Giacomo Agostini (159), Angel Nieto (139), Phil Read (121), Mike Hailwood (112) and Max Biaggi (106). American Nicky Hayden was third fastest on a Repsol Honda with 1:31.377 with compatriot Colin Edwards next with 1:31.387.
Spanish youngster Daniel Pedrosa, on the verge of becoming the youngest 250cc world champion this weekend, was seventh fastest in qualifying behind Alex De Angelis of San Marino.
Pedrosa has a massive 48-point lead and can clinch the crown by finishing as low as 14th place this weekend, even if sole rival Sebastian Porto wins.
De Angelis clocked 1:32.986 ahead of compatriot Manuel Poggiali (1:33.210), with Porto third fastest and Pedrosa 1.655secs down on De Angelis. Gino Borsoi took the provisional pole in the 125cc class with a fastest lap of 1:38.834 ahead of Italian Andrea Dovizioso (1:39.171).
