ROUND 6 - GRAN PREMI GAULOISES DE CATALUNYA
11 JUNE 2005 - QUALIFYING PRACTICE

KAWASAKI RIDERS IN SEARCH OF MORE PACE AT CATALUNYA

Kawasaki riders, Shinya Nakano and Alex Hofmann, ended a frustrating qualifying
session in 12th and 14th positions respectively at the Catalunya Circuit this
afternoon.

Both riders had anticipated much stronger performances, but were hampered by a
lack of grip as they tried for faster times on soft qualifying rubber.

Nakano posted his fastest lap, at 1'43.607s, on race rubber and could not
improve when he switched to qualifiers late in the session. Hofmann was just
0.2s slower than his teammate and also mystified at the lack of pace and grip in
the warmer afternoon session.

Both riders had been more consistent, and almost as fast, in the cooler morning
free practice session as they evaluated race suspension and tyre set-ups.

Nakano's free practice time on race tyres was 1'43.8s, just two tenths slower
than qualifying. Also in free practice Hofmann did a string of low 1'44s laps,
almost the equal of what he achieved in qualifying.

Grip levels appeared to change dramatically when track temperatures rose for
qualifying as the sun broke through threatening lunchtime clouds.

Tyre supplier Bridgestone have provided a wide range of new tyres for evaluation
this weekend and, while there has been an improvement, both riders and
technicians are searching for another step forward.

Nakano, who finished a brilliant seventh in this race last year, is predicting a
long and hot struggle in the forecast warm and humid conditions.

Shinya Nakano: #56 - Twelfth - (1'43.607)

"It was very strange, I was faster on a race tyre than the soft qualifying
rubber. The positive point was that our race pace is improved from yesterday,
but this is going to be a very difficult race for us. I'm looking for and need
more traction and grip in the high-speed corners. I'll give it 100% in the race,
but I would prefer to be able to qualify closer to the front than the fourth row."

Alex Hofmann: #66 - Fourteenth - (1'43.856)

"I'm not happy with this qualifying result. I got 100% out of the qualifying
tyres, but this was the best time that was possible. The performance in the
morning free practice with race set-up was more positive, I was able to do
1'44.1s laps comfortably. This will be our race pace, but it is going to be a
long and hot race that will require a lot of consistency from the set-up. It
wasn't easy this afternoon with a lack of grip, perhaps because of the higher
temperature."

Ichiro Yoda: Technical Director

"Our tyre performance has improved a little from the IRTA test here in March,
but we still need more edge and drive grip; this sums up our performance today.
We have concentrated heavily on tyre testing this weekend."

QUALIFYING PRACTICE - FINAL TIMES

 1. Sete Gibernau (SPA) Movistar Honda MotoGP   1'42.337
 2. Marco Melandri (ITA) Movistar Honda MotoGP    +0.053
 3. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Gauloises Yamaha Team   +0.386
 4. Max Biaggi (ITA) Repsol Honda                 +0.419
 5. Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol Honda               +0.510
 6. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Ducati Marlboro Team    +0.655
 7. Colin Edwards (USA) Gauloises Yamaha Team     +0.772
 8. Carlos Checa (SPA) Ducati Marlboro Team       +0.792
 9. Alex Barros (BRA) Camel Honda                 +0.822
10. Makoto Tamada (JPN) Konica Minolta Honda      +0.870
11. John Hopkins (USA) Team Suzuki MotoGP         +0.954
12. Shinya Nakano (JPN) Kawasaki Racing Team      +1.270
14. Alex Hofmann (GER) Kawasaki Racing Team       +1.527