MotoGP Round 6 At Assen – Lorenzo Puts Yamaha On Pole
Jorge Lorenzo displayed yet another superb qualifying session as the Fiat Yamaha Team rider will launch his Assen assault from pole position. He is bidding to take his first premier-class win in the Dutch TT.
An inch-perfect final lap from the Mallorcan saw him qualify 0.282 seconds ahead of Randy de Puniet, with Casey Stoner filling the final front-row spot and Yamaha Tech 3 rider Ben Spies taking fourth, his best MotoGP qualifying position to date.
Lorenzo was the only rider to dip into the 1’34s this morning and was the first to do so again this afternoon as he set about refining the set-up of his M1 around the elegant twists and turns of the historic track.
He surrendered the top spot to de Puniet for a short while but with ten minutes to go he moved back into pole position and remained in command to the end, extending his lead with a brilliant final lap to secure his second pole of the season for the 80th Dutch TT on Saturday
Qualifying Times :
1. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Fiat Yamaha Team 1’34.515
2. Randy de Puniet (FRA) LCR Honda MotoGP 1’34.797
3. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati Marlboro Team 1’34.803
4. Ben Spies (USA) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1’34.926
5. Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati Marlboro Team 1’34.999
6. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) Repsol Honda Team 1’35.015
7. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team 1’35.162
8. Marco Simoncelli (ITA) San Carlo Honda Gresini 1’35.283
9. Colin Edwards (USA) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1’35.393
10. Aleix Espargaro (SPA) Pramac Green Team 1’35.593
11. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1’35.664
12. Alvaro Bautista (SPA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1’36.344
13. Mika Kallio (FIN) Pramac Green Team 1’36.502
14. Hector Barbera (SPA) Aspar Team 1’36.569
15. Kousuke Akiyoshi (JPN) Interwetten Honda MotoGP 1’38.198
The qualifying session was held in warm and sunny conditions with track temperatures reaching 42ºC. The Dutch TT race is the only event on the Grand Prix calendar to be held on a Saturday and proceedings will commence at 14.00hrs local time (12.00hrs GMT) for the 80th running of the historic Dutch TT.
Photo / Editorial : Fiat Yamaha Team / Rizla Suzuki MotoGP / MotoGP
