Italian motorcycling maestro Valentino Rossi grabbed a last-gasp pole position for the San Marino Grand Prix here on Saturday.
The eight-time world champion claimed the 57th pole of his career by just 0.222sec on Spanish Honda rider Dani Pedrosa with Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo third at 0.470.
The Italian was fastest in every session so far this weekend and his final 1min 34.338sec lap put him in pole position for the sixth time this season. AFP
With only minutes remaining pole position had looked beyond the eight time world champion.
But the defending champion took a risk by changing his tyres and then produced a stunning lap to claim the pole.
Spain’s Toni Elias qualified in fourth place, over half a second behind Rossi, with Yamaha’s Colin Edwards fifth. BBC Sports
In his typically self-deprecating manner, Rossi explained the new helmet he is sporting this weekend, stating, “I have the donkey on it because in Italy, if you make a stupid mistake we say that you are a donkey. I made a mistake in Indy so this is why!” MotoGP
Qualifying Results
S. No. Rider Team 1 Valentino Rossi Fiat Yamaha Team 2 Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team 3 Jorge Lorenzo Fiat Yamaha Team 4 Toni Elias San Carlo Honda Gresini 5 Colin Edwards Tech 3 Yamaha 6 Nicky Hayden Ducati Marlboro Team 7 Alex De Angelis San Carlo Honda Gresini 8 Andrea Dovizioso Repsol Honda Team 9 Randy De Puniet LCR Honda MotoGP 10 Loris Capirossi Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 11 Mika Kallio Pramac Racing 12 Marco Melandri Hayate Racing Team 13 Chris Vermeulen Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 14 James Toseland Tech 3 Yamaha 15 Aleix Espargaro Pramac Racing 16 Niccolo Canepa Pramac Racing 17 Gabor Talmacsi Scot Racing Team MotoGP
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