Jerez MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo pole

Factory Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo has claimed pole position for his home MotoGP in Jerez tomorrow.

It was double joy for the 80,000 Spanish fans who were at the circuit today as Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa finished just 0.6secs off Lorenzo’s dominant time to begin tomorrow’s race in second.

And Colin Edwards impressive form also continued today. After being the surprise man at the top of the timesheets in the opening practice, the Texan will start from third after managing a 1:38.954.

MotoGP champion from 2006, Nicky Hayden was also happy to have chosen the 2008 Honda RC2112V as he finished in fourth just one place ahead of factory Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi.

Defending champion Casey Stoner only managed to qualify seventh.

Britain’s James Toseland managed 21 laps whilst still suffering from bronchitis and managed to qualifyin an impressive eighth considering he has spent a lot of the weekend in the Clinica Mobile.

Marco Melandri spectacularly crashed off his Ducati GP8, whiles there were a couple of scary moments for Kawasaki’s John Hopkins who clenched on to his ZX-RR with his knee while Tech 3 Yamaha’s Colin Edwards lost control of his YZF-M1 and looked certain to be a gonna. But after running into the gravel trap he picked the motorcycle up with his knee and kept it going. 

Jerez MotoGP Qualifying results:

1 Jorge LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team YAMAHA 1’38.189
2 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team HONDA 1’38.789
3 Colin EDWARDS USA Tech 3 Yamaha YAMAHA 1’38.954
4 Nicky HAYDEN USA Repsol Honda Team HONDA 1’39.061
5 Valentino ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team YAMAHA 1’39.064
6 Randy DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP HONDA 1’39.122
7 Casey STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team DUCATI 1’39.286
8 James TOSELAND GBR Tech 3 Yamaha YAMAHA 1’39.334
9 John HOPKINS USA Kawasaki Racing Team KAWASAKI 1’39.439
10 Loris CAPIROSSI ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP SUZUKI 1’39.484
11 Shinya NAKANO JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini HONDA 1’39.559
12 Chris VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP SUZUKI 1’39.704
13 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP HONDA 1’39.767
14 Alex DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini HONDA 1’40.037
15 Anthony WEST AUS Kawasaki Racing Team KAWASAKI 1’40.088
16 Toni ELIAS SPA Alice Team DUCATI 1’40.286
17 Sylvain GUINTOLI FRA Alice Team DUCATI 1’40.939
18 Marco MELANDRI ITA Ducati Marlboro Team DUCATI 1’41.027