Jorge Lorenzo Secures Pole Position for Dutch MotoGP
Spanish star Jorge Lorenzo had a great time in the qualifying session of the Dutch Moto GP, ending up with pole position after dominating proceedings in both sessions on Friday.
The race will take place on the world class track in Assen on Saturday, with Lorenzo starting as the favourite, in the continuing absence of Valentino Rossi, the reigning world champion.
The Yamaha rider was clearly the best rider of the day, clocking a best lap of one minute 34.51 seconds.
His best lap helped him shave off more than two-tenths off his best time from the two free sessions.
Lorenzo had a minor hiccup, as his domination was challenged by Randy de Puniet, who became the second rider at the race to register a time less than 1'35".
Puniet, who rides LCR Honda, and hails from France, will start from the second position on the grid on Saturday, after a remarkable session left him 0.282 off Lorenzo's pace.
One of the most renowned riders in the circuit Ducati’s Casey Stoner consolidated his chances of a final surge on race day when he put in a last lap of one minute 34.80 seconds.
The Australian will have a decent chance of upsetting Lorenzo when the race takes place; he was followed in the fourth spot by rookie Ben Spies who was riding a Yamaha Tech 3.
Spies will have close competition from American Nicky Hayden, who ended up on the fifth spot with his Honda, while fellow Honda rider, Andrea Dovizioso, will be in the second row finishing on the sixth spot in qualifying.
There was another major injury scare in the ongoing season, as Italian Marco Melandri crashed his Honda during the second practice session.
He has dislocated his shoulder, which has jeopardized his chances of competing in the race.
Meanwhile, Lorenzo, who leads the season standings with 115 points, 37 points ahead of Dovizioso, has targeted a podium finish for Saturday.
"I will try to win of course but this is not my really target, because my target is to finish the race and try to be on the podium. It would be important to make a good start." He said after the end of the second session.
On the other hand, Italian Andrea Iannone set the fastest time of one minute 39.092 seconds to claim pole position in the Moto2 class race.
He was followed closely in the second position by Thailand's Ratthapark Wilairot, who was riding Thai Honda PTT.
After the injury to Melandri, Alex Debon of Spain met a similar fate when he crashed heavily in his third lap, and a suspected fractured right collarbone might force him to miss the race.
Moto2 overall leader Toni Elias of Spain will start in sixth place.
In the 125cc category, Marc Marquez, who like Lorenzo also hails from Spain, will be attempting his third straight victory from pole position after setting an incredible pace in qualifying with the fastest lap of one minute 42.191 seconds.
Results from qualifying on Friday for Saturday's Dutch MotoGP in Assen:
1. Jorge Lorenzo (Spain) Yamaha one minute 34.515 seconds
2. Randy de Puniet (France) Honda 1:34.797
3. Casey Stoner (Australia) Ducati 1:34.803
4. Ben Spies (U.S.) Yamaha 1:34.926
5. Nicky Hayden (U.S.) Ducati 1:34.999
6. Andrea Dovizioso (Italy) Honda 1:35.015
7. Dani Pedrosa (Spain) Honda 1:35.162
8. Marco Simoncelli (Italy) Honda 1:35.283
9. Colin Edwards (U.S.) Yamaha 1:35.393
10. Aleix Espargaro (Spain) Ducati 1:35.593
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