SUZUKI RACING:

Team Suzuki Alstare Brux rider Yukio Kagayama ended the first day of qualifying at Brno in the Czech Republic with the 10th fastest time, but is hopeful of improvement tomorrow.

With regular teamster Max Neukirchner sidelined because of injury, Kagayama is the team’s sole representative this weekend and has to shoulder the burden of testing and qualifying without any help.

Italian Max Biaggi (Aprilia) posted the day’s fastest lap with fellow Roman Michel Fabrizio (Ducati) second. Spaniard Carlos Checa (Honda) was third, with American Ben Spies (Yamaha) fourth, making it four different manufacturers on the provisional front row.

Yukio Kagayama – 10th, 2:00.958:

“Tenth is so-so on day one and I wanted to be further up the standings. But today our bike was not so bad. Normally on Fridays, our bike is OK. The problems sometimes come on Saturdays and often we end up going back to the set-up we found on Fridays. I had a little crash today when I lost the front end after hitting some bumps, but fortunately my body did not suffer any injury. But I want to say sorry to my mechanics because I have given them some work to do! I like this track and have been on the podium here before, so I am hoping for a big improvement tomorrow and a good day on Sunday.”