Mugello, 31 May 2008: The sun shined at Mugello circuit today for final qualifying and the LCR Honda MotoGP Team rider Randy De Puniet qualified in 12th position for tomorrow’s Italian Grand Prix. After yesterday’s torrential rain, blue skies and ambience temperature of 24° C welcomed the premier class riders today at the crowded Italian circuit which hosts the sixth round of the calendar.

Yesterday, in full rain conditions, the Frenchman aboard the Michelin-shod Honda RC212V was again a strong performer but he struggled in the second part of the session when the surface started to dry up. So Randy focused his work mainly on tyres testing and suspension regulations to find a good set-up for tomorrow’s 23-lap race clocking his quickest lap time of 1’49.246 (on lap 22 of 26). Today’s poleman Rossi set his fastest lap time of 1’48.130.

De Puniet – 12th: “I knew that it would not have been easy to find the right set-up on dry with two practice sessions only and we still have to adjust some points especially in the rear of the bike. We tried different tyres and settings but I am not very happy. I could be faster in the last part of the qualifying session but Lorenzo came out in front of me and l lost my last fast lap. I could shave some tenths and start from the third row. Anyway we must work on the bike set-up in tomorrow’s warm up session to improve the rear grip”.

Qualifying Practice:

1 Rossi (1'48.130)
2 Pedrosa (1'48.297)
3 Capirossi (1’48.313)
4 Stoner (1’48.375)
5 Edwards (1’48.383)
6 Hayden (1'48.666)
7 Lorenzo (1'48.905)
8 Toseland (1’49.025)
9 Nakano (1’49.095)
10 De Angelis (1'49.145)
11 Vermeulen (1'49.220)
12 De Puniet (1'49.246)
13 Dovizioso (1’49.565)
14 Hopkins (1'49.601)
15 Okada(1’49.829)
16 Elias (1’49.851)
17 Guintoli (1’50.275)
18 Melandri (1'50.465)
19 West (1'50.889)