Dominant pole for Lorenzo at Jerez

Jorge Lorenzo continued to hold a vice like grip over proceedings at Jerez by claiming his first pole position of the season, his first since Misano last September. Lorenzo’s time was a new lap record at Jerez as he continued to show that he has bounced back from a poor showing in Argentina.

Lorenzo has set the pace in every session this weekend and he looks to be back on the form that he showed early in testing when he was made the title favourite. Lorenzo ended the day nearly four tenths faster than Marc Marquez with Andrea Iannone completing the front row.

Iannone’s teammate, Andrea Dovizioso, had a poor session to finish eighth and will line up alongside Cal Crutchlow and Yonny Hernandez on the third row. A late crash for Bradley Smith meant that he couldn’t improve on the tenth fastest time with the Tech3 rider struggling this weekend. On the other side of the Tech3 garage however will be in very different spirits with Pol Espargaro qualifying on the second row ahead of Valentino Rossi and Aleix Espargaro.