World Championship leader Jorge Lorenzo survived a dramatic final few moments of qualifying for tomorrow’s Airasia British Grand Prix, the Spaniard taking over the top spot with three minutes to go and then watching his front-row rivals crash out on their final laps.
Lorenzo put in a best lap of 2:03.688 with three to go to move ahead of the hard-riding Randy de Puniet, the Frenchman crashing out on his final lap as he made a bid for his first-ever MotoGP pole. Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa, meanwhile, also crashed on the last lap, the Spaniard appearing to have injured his left ankle after losing the front at speed. He was transported to the infield medical center in an ambulance, but walked into the center under his own power. DePuniet and Pedrosa, however, held on to their spots in second and third, respectively, behind Lorenzo, who earned his first pole position of the season.
“I don’t know… I just pushed all the practice at the beginning with the hard tire and at the end with the soft tire,” Lorenzo said. “I just drive so well. I felt so comfortable on the bike.”
De Puniet was a happy second and uninjured from his crash. Cycle News
Completing the front row will be Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa who was 0.152s further back. The Spaniard set his fastest lap on his final turn of the circuit, and then had a crash at Turn 12 which saw him stretchered off the side of the track. Bruising to his left and right knees was confirmed at the medical centre, with X-rays set to be performed as a cautionary measure.
Leading the second row will be another Repsol Honda rider Andrea Dovizioso, who was four-tenths of a second off his team-mate’s pace and the final rider to get within a second of Lorenzo (+0.687s). Ducati Marlboro duo Nicky Hayden and Casey Stoner had just 0.062s between them as they took fifth and sixth spots on the grid respectively.
The top ten in the session was completed by Ben Spies (Monster Yamaha Tech3), San Carlo Honda Gresini pair Marco Melandri and Marco Simoncelli, and Spies’ team-mate Colin Edwards. Sunday’s MotoGP race will start at 1pm local time. MotoGP
Click Here to Read More:
MotoGP: British Grand Prix - Race Line Up
MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo Fastest in First Practice at Silverstone
MotoGP: British Grand Prix - First Practice Results
MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa Fastest in Second Practice at Silverstone
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