Published on Taipei Times
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/sport/archives/2003/10/12/2003071455

Valentino Rossi takes pole after setting track record


AP, SEPANG, MALAYSIA
Sunday, Oct 12, 2003, Page 22

US' Nicky Hayden on his Honda takes a corner ahead of Japan's Tohru Ukawa and US' Colin Edwards during a qualifying session of the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang Circuit in Sepang, south of Kuala Lumpur, Saturday. The Malaysian Grand Prix will be held today.
PHOTO: EPA
Defending champion Valentino Rossi set a new qualifying record for the second time in two days Saturday to win pole position for the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Rossi will win his fifth career title and third in a row if he finishes first or second in Sunday's race -- and his form during two days of practice and qualifying in Malaysia's hot, tropical conditions has been ominous.

The Italian's rode his Honda around the 5.548km Sepang track in 2 minutes, 2.480 seconds Saturday, more than a second quicker than his fastest lap in Friday's qualifying session, which was itself a record.

The race lap record is 2:04.925, set last year by Italian Max Biaggi.

Spain's Carlos Checa will join Rossi at the front of the grid after riding Saturday's second fastest time of 2:02.885, followed by Japan's Makoto Tamada's 2:03.138.

Sete Gibernau, Rossi's countryman and only remaining challenger for the title, will start Sunday's race seventh on the grid after posting a fastest qualifying time of 2:03.381.

Rossi can finish behind Gibernau on Sunday and still win the championship, providing he is close enough to maintain a 50-point lead, which would be unassailable with only two races left in the season. Rossi currently has 282 championship points to Gibernau's 224.

In the 125cc class, Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo will start in pole position after riding a time of 2:14.403 Saturday, ahead of countryman Daniel Pedrosa, whose best time was 2:14.485, and Mika Kallio of Japan, who rode 2:14.541.

Pedrosa, 18, is leading the overall points race and could win the championship if he is first over the line Sunday, depending on where nearest rival Stefano Preugini finishes.

The final qualifying session for the 250ccs was being held later Saturday.