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De Puniet claims surprise provisional MotoGP pole

All fell into place for Frenchman Randy De Puniet as he claimed surprise provisional pole yesterday for tomorrow's Australian MotoGP.

The 25-year-old Kawasaki rider, in his undistinguished debut MotoGP season, roared around the island circuit in a best lap time of 1:29.745 seconds to trump his more accomplished premier class rivals, still adjusting to track and tyre conditions.

De Puniet, stepping up after three seasons in the 250cc class, had 0.565 seconds on Italian Ducati rider Loris Capirossi, who put in a best lap of 1:30.310.

World championship leader Nicky Hayden was third-fastest in practice with 1:30.471, ahead of Spain's Sete Gibernau, on a Ducati, with 1:30.693.

Five-times world MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi was eighth-quickest on his Yamaha in 1:31.045.

"Sometimes you turn up at a racetrack and the bike just seems to work, that's what happened here today," De Puniet said.

"From the first lap this morning I felt comfortable on the bike and we've changed very little during the two practice sessions," he said.

De Puniet has not gained a podium finish this season and lies 16th in the standings behind championship leader Hayden (Repsol Honda) with 26 points.

Capirossi, who is fourth in the standings and must win at Phillip Island to keep his mathematical title hopes alive, said his Ducati bike would be competitive.
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