Suzuki: Front row is turning point

After flying during the winter - when Capirossi was often Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi's closest challenger - Suzuki has struggled to extract its bike's full potential during the race weekends. Also hampered by a relative lack of power, the team's best results in the opening rounds are a pair of sixth places.

But despite being frustrated during practice yesterday, Capirossi grabbed third today, ahead of seven-time Mugello winner Rossi's Yamaha, a result Denning thinks will spur the team on.

"Things were really tough yesterday afternoon for both the guys and the team has done very well to turn the bike around and inspire a much higher level of confidence in the GSV-R today," he said.

"It's fantastic to be back on the front row, especially with the high level of competition that there is right now.

"For Loris to get amongst that group is going to help his confidence and self-belief - not just for tomorrow but as a kick-start to the rest of the season. Well done to Loris and well done to his crew for giving him a bike capable of reaching the front row."

Capirossi admitted that his frustrations hit a peak in practice on Friday, but that the team has responded very well.

"It has been a fantastic day today, especially because I was a bit angry yesterday and we had a really good meeting with all the team and decided to change a lot of things on the bike," he said.

"I know that Suzuki has been doing a lot of work at the factory and we now hope that the new engine that is coming to Barcelona will help even more. The race will be hard for everybody tomorrow, but I don't have anything to lose and I will try my best and see what happens."