barros hayden
Barros 'not bad', Hayden 'back in the groove'.
Repsol Honda riders Alex Barros and Nicky Hayden finished the first day of the team's most important race of the year, the Japanese Grand Prix, seventh and eighth fastest respectively.
Crucial lap from Hayden, Barros runs new exhaust.
Nicky Hayden ended the first day of German GP qualifying an impressive second fastest for Repsol Honda, a performance he believes could be crucial if the Sachsenring weather worsens.
Hayden: Just really happy!
Mugello final qualifying saw Nicky Hayden finally deliver the kind of performance expected of him this season, the young American putting his factory Honda an excellent second on the grid for tomorrow's Italian Grand Prix.
Barros gets 'green card'.
Alex Barros may not have spent the opening two races of the 2004 season battling for victory, but the Brazilian has arguably exceeded early season expectations by outracing Repsol Honda team-mate Nicky Hayden.