MotoGP Round 10 at Brno – Pedrosa Tops Qualifying
Dani Pedrosa delivered his third pole of the season after an action-packed qualifying session. The Spaniard clocked his best lap time of 1.56.508s, just over three-tenths of a second clear over 2nd place man Ben Spies of Tech 3 Yamaha.
Spies had looked to be on course for his first ever MotoGP pole when he top the leader board with only a few minutes remaining. But Pedrosa had other ideas and save his best lap time for last to nick the top grid from Spies.
Nevertheless its still a good results for the American as he starts a MotoGP class race from the front row for the first time in his carrier.
Championship leader Jorge Lorenzo will attempt to achieve his seventh win of the campaign from the final front-row spot having qualified at 0.357s off Pedrosa’s pace.
The Fiat Yamaha rider had a fall right at the end of the hour-long session when pushing through turn 11, a crash which did not result in any side effects.
At his third race back after injury, World Champion Rossi was looking to return to the front row for the first time.
But the Italian was disappointed to qualify on the second row but is confident of a strong showing on race day.
Qualifying Times :
1. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team 1’56.508
2. Ben Spies (USA) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1’56.846
3. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Fiat Yamaha Team 1’56.865
4. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati Marlboro Team 1’56.868
5. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Fiat Yamaha Team 1’57.059
6. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) Repsol Honda Team 1’57.117
7. Colin Edwards (USA) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1’57.222
8. Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati Marlboro Team 1’57.635
9. Hector Barbera (SPA) Aspar Team 1’57.960
10. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1’57.981
11. Randy de Puniet (FRA) LCR Honda MotoGP 1’58.089
12. Marco Simoncelli (ITA) San Carlo Honda Gresini 1’58.169
13. Mika Kallio (FIN) Pramac Green Team 1’58.182
14. Marco Melandri (ITA) San Carlo Honda Gresini 1’58.430
15. Alex de Angelis (ITA) Interwetten Honda MotoGP 1’58.522
16. Aleix Espargaro (SPA) Pramac Green Team 1’58.700
Photo : Fiat Yamaha / Rizla Suzuki / MotoGP
