China MotoGP: Alvaro Bautista secures 250 pole

Aprilia’s Alvaro Bautista will begin tomorrow’s 250GP race from pole position after hanging on to his dominance from yesterday in Shanghai.

The Spaniard did improve on his time from the first qualifying session to post a 2:04.882 half way through the session and secure himself the pole spot.

Hector Barbera will begin the race from second on his Aprilia, while championship leader Mika Kallio will start from third, despite the fact he couldn’t improve on his best time of 2:05.402 from Friday.

Rounding off the front row is another KTM rider, Julian Simon whose best lap of 2:05.651 today was enough to secure him fourth spot.

Fallers in this session were Yuki Takahashi who had a massive high-side coming off his Honda on his eighth lap, while KTM’s Mika Kallio also had a visit to the tarmac but both were unhurt.

Ireland’s Eugene Laverty managed to improve on his Friday time of 2:08.938 to bring it down to 2:07.7 and then a couple of laps later a 2:07.6 right at the end of the session. He will start tomorrow’s race from 19th.

China MotoGP 250 qualifying results:

1 A. BAUTISTA SPA Mapfre Aspar Team 2’04.882
2 H. BARBERA SPA Team Toth Aprilia + 0.435
3 J. SIMON SPA Repsol KTM 250cc + 0.769
4 M. SIMONCELLI ITA Metis Gilera + 0.842
5 M. KALLIO FIN Red Bull KTM 250 + 0.938
6 T. LUTHI SWI Emmi – Caffe Latte + 1.030
7 M. POGGIALI RSM Campetella Racing + 1.310
8 R. LOCATELLI ITA Metis Gilera + 1.334
9 Y. TAKAHASHI JPN JiR Team Scot 250 + 1.363
10 H. AOYAMA JPN Red Bull KTM 250 + 1.394
11 A. DEBON SPA Lotus Aprilia + 1.397
12 H. FAUBEL SPA Mapfre Aspar Team + 1.401
13 L. PESEK CZE Auto Kelly – CP + 1.546
14 A. ESPARGARO SPA Lotus Aprilia + 1.677
15 M. PASINI ITA Polaris World + 1.736
16 F. LAI ITA Campetella Racing + 2.201
17 K. ABRAHAM CZE Cardion AB Motoracing + 2.219
18 R. WILAIROT THA Thai Honda PTT SAG + 2.232
19 E. LAVERTY IRL Blusens Aprilia + 2.783
20 A. BALDOLINI ITA Matteoni Racing + 4.791
21 D. PRADITA INA Yamaha Pertamina Indonesia + 5.372
22 I. TOTH HUN Team Toth Aprilia + 6.511
23 R. GOMEZ Spa Blusens Aprilia + 6.742