Quick Qualifying

Shinya's going to start the Le Mans race from Row 2, in 6th position. That's great stuff.

1. VALENTINO ROSSI ITA GAULOISES YAMAHA TEAM 1'33.226
2. COLIN EDWARDS USA GAULOISES YAMAHA TEAM +0.223
3. MARCO MELANDRI ITA MOVISTAR HONDA MOTOGP +0.239
4. SETE GIBERNAU SPA MOVISTAR HONDA MOTOGP +0.241
5. NICKY HAYDEN USA REPSOL HONDA +0.288
6. SHINYA NAKANO JPN KAWASAKI RACING TEAM +0.310
7. JOHN HOPKINS USA TEAM SUZUKI MOTOGP +0.368
8. MAX BIAGGI ITA REPSOL HONDA +0.473
9. CARLOS CHECA SPA DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM +0.501
10. LORIS CAPIROSSI ITA DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM +0.547
11. ALEX BARROS BRA CAMEL HONDA +0.650
12. TONI ELIAS SPA FORTUNA YAMAHA TEAM +0.765
13. OLIVIER JACQUE FRA KAWASAKI RACING TEAM +1.177

Source : Kawasaki-Eckl

He has a knack for ending up number 8 or 9 though, once the red lights go off. Maybe he's too nice to muscle his way through the crowd. There are 8 more riders after Jacque, Kawasaki's replacement for the injured Alex Hoffman, but they seem to be there just to fill up the ranks, to score points rather than challenge for podium finishes. Like Miss Singapore in the Miss Universe pageants, sadly. The only time I remembered a local delegate making it to the final 10 was when it was held here, in 1987. The winner that year was Miss Chile. Didn't even have to look that up. My dad recorded it and I watched it, mesmerized, til I memorized the dance routines. Let's go baby, let's go baby, come on !