MotoGP Phillip Island, Qualifying: Marco Simoncelli “I'm very happy with the front row”

Marco Simoncelli will start tomorrow from the front row in the Australian Grand Prix, the third to last event of the 2011 world championship which will be held on the splendid Phillip Island track. The Gresini driver in fact achieved the third fastest time with a time of 1'30"599.

“I'm very happy because it's been several Grands Prix since I started on the front row and this result makes me happy – said Marco Simoncelli – They were two days in which I was always very fast but I also had to take into account three crashes including the one of this morning. The day didn't start very well due to the adverse weather conditions with very cold and wind and therefore it wasn't easy. This afternoon however we managed to work well, we had an excellent qualifying session and therefore my hope for tomorrow is to be able to get on the podium and I will do my best to do so. At the moment Stoner seems unattainable but in racing you never say never!”

Team-mate Hiroshi Aoyama fared less well, finishing twelfth.

“Unfortunately, when I entered to try to improve my position on the grid for tomorrow's race, I fell at turn six and compromised today's practice – added Hiroshi Aoyama – The impact was violent and when I returned to the garage I preferred to stay there because I didn't feel in the best condition. Today's conditions weren't the best, cold and wind didn't allow us to work as we would have liked. The set-up for the race isn't bad even though yesterday I had definitely more confidence with the bike. I hope that the weather conditions improve tomorrow to give me the chance to have a good Grand Prix."