Ducati Marlboro Team riders Sete Gibernau and Loris Capirossi produced a stunning qualifying performance at Mugello yesterday to take first and second places on the grid for today's Italian GP, during which they will run a special livery to celebrate three important anniversaries for Ducati. 2006 is the 80th anniversary of the foundation of the Borgo Panigale-based company, it is also the 60th year since Ducati began motorcycle production and the 50th year since it first used the desmodromic valve system, as used throughout its world-renowned range of street and racing motorcycles.

The team's two riders dominated the entire qualifying session to record their second one-two grid performance of the year, though this time it was Gibernau who bettered Capirossi in the final moments of the outing with the fastest-ever motorcycle lap of the high-speed Mugello circuit, just 0.089 seconds ahead of the Italian. At Jerez in March it was Capirossi who pipped Spaniard Gibernau for pole!

SETE GIBERNAU, pole position, 1m 48.969s: "This is a very special moment. I know it's only qualifying but I still count this as my first victory with Ducati. I really needed something like this because it confirms that Ducati and Bridgestone were the best choice for me. Also, they believe in me and are giving me the best shot I've ever had in this championship. I'd like to dedicate this pole to everyone at Ducati, both here in the team and back at the factory, because they always give it everything they've got. Bridgestone are amazing too, because they're giving me incredible support. Pole is important but maybe more important than that is the way these guys work with me - they treat me better than I've ever been treated before, so a big thanks to them."
 

LORIS CAPIROSSI, 2nd fastest, 1m 49.058s: "Today was interesting. We started this afternoon with a race set-up and I did 12 laps at a good rhythm, including one 49.8 lap. That's not bad and we'll be even better if tomorrow is a bit warmer. Then I tried some new qualifying tyres that I'd never tried before. The first of them was the best, so I used another of that tyre for my last run but unfortunately I came across some traffic and made a small mistake in the T1 section. Anyway, we are more than okay. I hope tomorrow will be a big day for us.

"A podium finish would make me happy, we'll just have to see which step of the podium. Sete rode really well today. I 'stole' pole from him at Jerez, so now he's got it back! It's great that Ducati has got pole here. Tomorrow it will be very important to get a good start and use full gas from the beginning, because when the tyres begin to go off, whoever is in front should be able to maintain their advantage," he added.

FILIPPO PREZIOSI, Ducati Corse Director: "I'm very happy and full of emotion! We gave both our riders the bikes they deserve, and that makes us very proud. We have a good race pace but a big fight with some very strong riders awaits us tomorrow. The race will be a real battle and we will be there..."