Italy’s Valentino Rossi (left) rides his Yamaha ahead of Spain’s Marc Marquez of Honda, America’s Nicky Hayden of Ducati and Czech Karel Abraham during a qualifying session yesterday on the eve of the MotoGP at Mugello racetrack. Spain’s Dani Pedrosa (INSET) clocked the best time ahead of Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso.
MUGELLO, Italy: World championship leader Dani Pedrosa broke the track record in Mugello yesterday to take pole for today’s Italian MotoGP.
The 27-year-old - who has won the last two races of the season - timed 1min 47.157sec on the last lap to edge out Spain’s world champion Jorge Lorenzo on a Yamaha while Italian Andrea Dovizioso was third fastest on a Ducati.
Pedrosa, who will be bidding to give Honda their 14th win in the last 17 MotoGPs, said that he had needed such a lap at a time when he lay way down the grid, and found the extra pace to grab his first pole of the year.
“I had almost no time left and I was only sixth fastest,” Pedrosa, who has yet to add to his 125cc and 250cc world titles having finished championship runner-up on three occasions, told BBC.
“I had to really push hard and it worked for me. However, I hope we can improve the bike a bit for tomorrow so we can up the pace.”
Lorenzo, whose team-mate, the Italian great Valentino Rossi, had a terrible session and will start from seventh place on the grid, said he thought he had pole sealed.
“When I saw my lap time I thought it was good enough for pole,” said the 26-year-old, who was also world champion in 2010.
“However, Dani produced a great lap and deserves pole.
“I just hope the weather holds for Sunday as it promises to be a great race. The important thing is to make a good start tomorrow, to get in front and to go away if possible. If not possible, the race is long and we have to be consistent. We have to improve some small details but in general the bike is better here than at the other tracks.”
Rossi, who won seven successive races at the Mugello track from 2002-08, wasn’t too disappointed by having to start down the grid.
“As always in the qualifying we suffer more than the others,” said the 34-year-old, who moved to Yamaha after a disappointing spell at Ducati.
“They use the slipstream of the others and are able to go a bit faster than me. Unfortunately I have to start on the third row but I’m quite happy because my pace is quite good so I think with a good start I can do a good race. We will see tomorrow.”
AFP
