Roberts: Best top speed would allow.

Kenny Roberts will start tomorrow's Italian Grand Prix from a credible ninth - a position he describes as 'where we should be' given the GSV-R's current lack of top speed.

The 2000 world champion was just seventeenth fastest through the Mugello speed trap this afternoon - almost 12km/h slower than pace setters Max Biaggi (Honda) and Loris Capirossi (Ducati).

"I think we're right around where we should be - not too far up to be in an awkward place," said Kenny. "Our straightaway speed is not good enough to stay with the top six or seven riders. If I can get a good start and be in the top ten, that's a realistic goal at the moment."

Roberts is riding alone at Mugello, with regular team-mate John Hopkins still recovering from a left thumb fracture suffered three weeks ago when he was an innocent victim of a three-bike pile-up in the French GP.

Today Hopkins again acted as trackside observer, studying form through the track's series of medium-speed and fast corners to back up the data gathered from Roberts and the on-board computer equipment.

The 21-year-old Anglo-American was in the perfect spot to watch a fiery crash that caused the session to be stopped for some minutes - and to give victim Kurtis Roberts a lift back to the pits on his scooter directly afterwards.