More Red Flags than the Communist Party Convention...

First Qualifying Update

The fastest rider in this morning's first qualifying session was Yoshimura Suzuki No.12's Sakai, with a lap time of 2:07.984 set in the first session of the day. The second quickest time of the day, 2:08.580, was set by Akiyoshi on the No.34 Yoshimura Suzuki.

Honda have a point to prove after Yoshimura and Yamaha were faster than them in Free Practice yesterday, but they have a fight on their hands. Kiyonari was the quickest Honda rider, with a time of 2:08.626 on the No.11 HRC Dream Honda. Shinichi Ito (2:08.756) on the No.2 FCC TSR Honda was fourth quickest, with Johnny Rea (2:08.778) fifth fastest on the No.33 HRC Dream Honda. No other riders got into the 2:08s.

Tsuda (Sakurai Honda 71) and Kiyonari (Dream Honda 11)

Disaster hit SERT Suzuki when Vincent Philippe hit a crashed bike during the out lap after his session was restarted following an earlier accident. The SERT rider is reported as having broken his right ankle and will not ride again this weekend.

The A and B group Rider 1 sessions were frequently interrupted by red flags after a series of crashes around the circuit. Conditions are perfect if a little warm (track temperature is around 55 degrees!) and the only reason for so many incidents is over enthusiasm by the riders.

Yasuda, Kyubo.com HARC Pro Honda. Another red flag...

The quickest permanent team riders so far are:

Muff, Bolliger Kawasaki, 2:12.967

Lagrive, SERT Suzuki, 2:13.149

Martin, Yamaha Austria, 2:13.203

Da Costa, SERT Suzuki, 2:13.505

Jerman, Yamaha Austria, 2:14.450

Pridmore, Maco Moto Yamaha, 2:15.301

Cudlin D, Phase One Yamaha, 2:15.317

Ribalta, Folch Yamaha, 2:15.342

Plater, Yamaha Austria, 2:15.576

The second qualifying sessions finish at 18:45 this evening; more news then.

And we've had the first Pit Walk of the weekend, too...

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