Capirossi, De Puniet, their qualifying at the GP Valencia and more

The starting grid for the Valencia Grand Prix was set during today’s qualifying session. Randy De Puniet has taken fourth-fastest time with his Ducati.

The French rider from the Pramac Racing Team managed to set a lap time of 1:33.118, just a few hundredths off third place, taken by Ben Spies.

For his part, Loris Capirossi has set the twelfth-fastest time with a lap of 1:34.671. Tomorrow he will race with a special livery on his suit to commemorate his career, which is coming to an end (though nobody knows whether it might not be somewhere else). You can see the livery in the images accompanying this post.

Let’s see what the Pramac team has to say:

Randy De Puniet (#14) (4th)

I’m happy to be finishing the season, which has been unlucky at times but good overall. These last few days my team has been working very well. I’ve found excellent feeling with the bike and the tyres. I feel confident both in the wet and in the dry. It has been a season of ups and downs, and I want to finish as well as I can; that’s my way of thanking the team.

Loris Capirossi (#58) (12th)

Thinking that this is my last qualifying session makes me feel a little sad, but I’m happy with my decision. I hoped my last race would be different, more cheerful. Instead, I’m very sad, and there’s a huge gap because of Marco, who has left us.

I’m sorry, but I’m not riding fast, though I want to honour him as much as I can tomorrow. It’s going to be my last race, and I still can’t believe it.