WET WEATHER didn't stop Suzuki's Chris Vermeulen from scorching the opposition in the final qualifying for the Dutch TT, taking the third pole of his flourishing career..
The shock of the session was Valentino Rossi who could only manage 11th position. Championship leader Casey Stoner racked up a solid second place and Kawasaki star Randy de Puniet took third spot, following a gutsy lap from the up-and-coming Frenchman
Similar to the Donington qualifying session, the track was wet throughout, only drying slighty during the typically uneventful quiet period during the middle of the session. With less than 10 minutes remaining, the heavens opened, meaning all hot laps were set with water on the track, with some riders setting quicker times in the rain than they did when the track was at its dryest.
MotoGP Dutch TT: Final qualifying times1. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1m48.555 secs
2. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1m48.572 secs
3. Randy de Puniet FRA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1m49.579 secs
4. Marco Melandri ITA Gresini Honda (B) 1m49.679 secs
5. John Hopkins USA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1m49.684 secs
6. Colin Edwards USA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 1m49.691 secs
7. Anthony West AUS Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1m49.807 secs
8. Alex Hofmann GER Pramac d'Antin MotoGP (B) 1m49.927 secs
9. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1m50.132 secs
10. Loris Capirossi ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1m50.169 secs
11. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 1m50.392 secs
12. Alex Barros BRA Pramac d'Antin MotoGP (B) 1m50.402 secs
13. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1m50.581 secs
14. Kurtis Roberts USA Team Roberts (M) 1m51.259 secs
15. Shinya Nakano JPN Konica Minolta Honda (M) 1m51.827 secs
16. Carlos Checa SPA Honda LCR (M) 1m53.271 secs
17. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Dunlop Tech 3 Yamaha (D) 1m54.253 secs
18. Makoto Tamada JPN Dunlop Tech 3 Yamaha (D) 1m57.525 secs
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