Grand Prix of China
Shanghai International Circuit, China
Saturday 30th April

GAULOISES YAMAHA RIDERS GETTING TO GRIPS WITH SHANGHAI

Gauloises Yamaha Team riders Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards continued with
the difficult task of adapting their YZR-M1 machines to the Shanghai
International Circuit on just the second day of MotoGP action in China today.
After brief rain showers interrupted proceedings yesterday, cracks of sunshine
broke through the hazy clouds this afternoon and gave the riders crucial time to
find a suitable setting for the dry conditions.

Whilst Rossi will be looking to run with the lead group from the second row of
the grid after setting the sixth fastest time of 2'00.821, Edwards faces another
charge through the pack after again suffering from the run of bad luck that has
dogged his otherwise encouraging start to the season. The American was unable to
make the most of his qualifying tyre today and actually set his best lap of
2'01.401 on a race tyre, confirming his excellent consistency and pace but
limiting him to a fifth row start in thirteenth place.

Sete Gibernau (Honda) set pole position with a time of 1'59.710 and the Spaniard
will be joined on the front row by Italian pair Marco Melandri (Honda) and Loris
Capirossi (Ducati) in what promises to be another close and exciting race, with
the top fourteen riders on the grid all qualifying within 1.8 seconds of pole.

VALENTINO ROSSI, 6th - (2'00.821, 20 laps)

"We tried a lot of things yesterday and today with the set-up but I'm still
having problems, mostly because of a lack of front feeling. This is causing the
tyres to not work properly, more on the right than the left. We made slight
alterations to the forks today and we have some more things to try in the
warm-up tomorrow. After the session I had a long briefing with my crew to decide
where we can make any improvements. Unfortunately it wasn't possible to start
from the front row and I'm only in sixth position, which is not ideal. If all is
okay tomorrow, including the work we do tomorrow morning, I might be able to
finish on the podium. It's going to be a really difficult race because it's such
a demanding circuit - I think it's going to test the riders and the bikes to the
maximum."

COLIN EDWARDS, 13th (2'01.401, 21 laps)

"It's the first time we've ridden at this circuit and after a wet day yesterday
we just did everything we could today to improve the general set-up of the bike.
I finally found a setting I liked but we were unable to use the qualifying tyre
on it and I actually set my fastest lap on a race tyre. It is encouraging
because I know I have a good race pace but the problem is that I'm starting from
the fifth row and it won't be at all easy to make my way through the pack,
especially at such a tight circuit. Because we've had so little dry time we
haven't been able to run endurance tests on the tyres, so I think there is a big
question mark for everybody about what is going to happen in the second half of
the race. I guess I'll just have to lose a few friends on the opening couple of
laps, get as close to the front as I can and take it from there."

DAVIDE BRIVIO - TEAM DIRECTOR

"Today wasn't an easy day for either of our riders, but I think both Valentino
and Colin have the pace to run at the front of the pack. It is going to be tough
for Colin to start from so far back but his lap times show that he has the
potential to get a good result if it stays dry. Of course, there is a good
chance it could rain and in those circumstances nobody knows what will happen.
We still have a few doubts about the setting of the bike but we have 20 minutes
in the warm-up tomorrow and we have to use that time carefully."

FRONT ROW:

 1. Sete Gibernau (SPA) Movistar Honda MotoGP,   1'59.710
 2. Marco Melandri (ITA) Movistar Honda MotoGP,  1'59.873
 3. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Ducati Marlboro Team,  2'00.480

SECOND ROW:

 4. John Hopkins (USA) Team Suzuki MotoGP,       2'00.666
 5. Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol Honda Team,        2'00.747
 6. VALENTINO ROSSI (ITA) Gauloises Yamaha Team, 2'00.821

THIRD ROW:
 7. Carlos Checa (SPA) Ducati Marlboro Team,     2'00.902
 8. Toni Elias (SPA) Fortuna Yamaha Team,        2'01.081
 9. Kenny Roberts (USA) Team Suzuki MotoGP,      2'01.085

13. COLIN EDWARDS (USA) Gauloises Yamaha Team,   2'01.401