KENNY Roberts Junior will start his first race of the new 800cc MotoGP era in Qatar with a disappointing qualifying position.
A big scare earlier in the crucial one-hour session left his confidence battered, spoiled his momentum, and meant he was unable to match testing times set in February.
The 2000 World Champion, riding the hybrid Banbury-built Honda-powered machine for his father Kenny Roberts's team, qualified 18th, and will start the race from the sixth row of the grid.
Pole position went to Yamaha-mounted Valentino Rossi, after an exciting climax to the first session for the new 800cc machines. It was also the first under new tyre rules, limiting each rider to a pre-selected 31 tyres for the weekend.
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