Motorcycling: McWilliams on form

The Ulsterman Jeremy McWilliams continued his fine recent form by qualifying on the provisional third row of the grid after the first qualifying session for the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello.

The 38-year-old finished 10th fastest on the 500cc two-stroke Proton KR machine, against the four-strokes. On a great day for the Marlboro Yamaha team, Spain's Carlos Checa and Italy's Max Biaggi led the way.

"It's tough against the those very fast four-strokes, and if we could just use sections two and three and a short straight here, I would be fastest," said McWilliams. "Tyre choice will be important and also we hope to have our new chassis very soon after some good testing in Spain last week."

Checa rode his Yamaha to a record lap to clinch provisional pole. The Spaniard outpaced his Yamaha team-mate Biaggi, as well as Honda's defending world champion Valentino Rossi, who was third.