Wet Brno benefits Checa

Carlos Checa made the best of a wet qualifying session at Brno for the Czech GP, putting his Yamaha into provisional pole position.

But the biggest suprises were in the top ten. Factory Ducati riders Troy bayliss and Loris Capirossi finished the session second and fourth respectively, but the shock of the day was Kurtis Roberts, who put his Dunlop-shod Proton KR up into sixth position, ahead of Valentino Rossi and older brother Kenny Roberts.

Neil Hodgson managed a respectable tenth, just one place behind team-mate Ruben Xaus, and in front of Colin Edwards. And behind them were Repsol Honda rider Nicky Hayden in 15th and Camel Honda’s Max Biaggi in 16th.