Valentino Rossi added a third pole position to enviable haul from 2009 at Sachsenring on Saturday, coming out on top in a drenched qualifying session for the Alice Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland. Rossi’s last gasp 1’32.520 lap was not only enough to head the timesheet by over six-tenths of a second, but it was also sufficient to give him a first ever MotoGP pole at the German track.
Rossi relegated Fiat Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo to second on the grid, and the two share the front row for the sixth time this season. Joining them in the first line of attack will be fellow title contender Casey Stoner, a further six-tenths down on Rossi’s marker in the qualifying run. MotoGP.com
“Conditions were really tough,” said Rossi.
“There was a river running through the track at one point. So it’s a really important pole. But I hope, like everyone, that we’ll have nice weather tomorrow.”
Behind the top three, Hayden, San Marino’s Alex De Angelis and Frenchman Randy De Puniet make up the second row. AFP
This was also the 158th podium finish for Rossi, equal to Giacomo Agostini’s all-time record.
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The American was one of six riders to crash in the testing conditions, with Marco Melandri, Toni Elias, Randy de Puniet, Alex de Angelis and Niccolo Canepa also suffering falls on Saturday afternoon.
De Angelis ended up fifth fastest ahead of France’s de Puniet, with American Colin Edwards seventh on a Yamaha.
Spain’s Dani Pedrosa, who won from Rossi last time out in California, could manage only eighth for Honda Repsol. CNN International
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