The closest qualifying session for a long while in the 250cc class took place at Estoril this afternoon, with no fewer than eight riders fighting for pole until the final moments. Once again there was a strong Spanish flavour to the action, with Álvaro Bautista and Héctor Barberá contesting a close battle for pole that was won by the latter, with Marco Simoncelli and Hiro Aoyama ensuring that the front row is made up by the top four in the championship.
After winning here for the last three years perhaps this is a lucky circuit for Mapfre rider Bautista, who qualified on the front row for the first time since the German GP back in July. His best time of 1’40.654 came on his 19th lap and was good enough for second place on the grid, although it could have been even better if it wasn’t for intense traffic on track over the final three laps. Mike Di Meglio has shown the kind of form all weekend that made him a contender for a front row start himself but the Frenchman also got held up by traffic this afternoon, his best lap only good enough for a third row start in tenth place.
2nd Álvaro Bautista 1.40.654 (22 laps):
“It has been a long time since we’ve been on the front row and since we showed good pace in practice so I think we needed this. When you qualify up front you know you have the pace, you have good references and everything is more ‘easy’, so to speak. I’m happy to be on the front row but more for the fact that I feel comfortable and I’m riding the Aprilia how I want to, with a good set-up for the race. We have been strong and made progress all weekend so I think we’re in the right shape for a good race tomorrow, especially because this is a circuit that has brought us luck for the past three seasons so I hope that run continues tomorrow. I want to fight to win with everything I have. Unfortunately I ran into traffic at the end of the session and the three final laps were pretty much wasted but the important thing is the feeling I have with the bike, my confidence and my pace.”
10th Mike Di Meglio 1.41.353 (19 laps):
“I’m really happy with how my pace was all day today but not with the position we have ended up with. I tried to get a tow at the end but there was so much traffic around and I just couldn’t improve. It was a mistake on my part because my pace was good and I should have just tried to set a better time on my own. Anyway, I’m not too concerned because I know that I have the pace to be in the top five, so I just have to try my best to get a good start and make up positions when and where I can. The Aprilia is working perfectly in terms of both the chassis and the engine so I think it could be another great day for us tomorrow. I think we deserve a good result.”
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It was a busy day for Balatonring rider Balázs Németh, who made a whole host of changes to his Aprilia in search of the best possible set-up for tomorrow’s race. The hard work paid off halfway through the afternoon session, when the Budapest man stepped up his pace. Balázs clocked his best time on his penultimate lap and was on course to go even faster next time around until a crash in turn seven, when he lost front end grip, ruined his chances. However, with no major injuries to report he was able to return to the box and begin planning further improvements in tomorrow’s warm-up.
21st Balázs Németh 1.44.305 (17 laps):
“Today went much better than yesterday and little by little I’ve got to know the circuit better and found my reference points. Halfway through the session we found a setting that allowed me to improve in acceleration and set faster lap times as a result. I was going even faster on the last lap but lost the front end of my Aprilia in turn seven and crashed. Luckily I wasn’t hurt and I’m in perfect physical shape for the race tomorrow. The crash came when I felt like I was on the limit so I know I have given my best and I’m happy with that. I’m sure we can give it another push in the morning warm-up and find a set-up that will allow us to fight for points in the race.”
