MotoGP Catalunya: Final Qualifying Positions

By
Ron Lieback
-

MotoGP Grid

Jorge Lorenzo put in a strong run at the end of qualifying to take pole position for Sunday’s Gran Premi Aperol de Catalunya at Montmeló, coming out on top in an hour-long battle for MotoGP supremacy in the session.

The Fiat Yamaha motorcycle rider’s best time of 1’42.046 ended up placing him 0.364s clear, but only after top spot had changed hands a number of times.

Second position was Casey Stoner’s after the Ducati rider overcame what was a clear dissatisfaction with his bike to move up several places on his 19th of 21 laps. The Australian did snatch first spot with his time of 1’42.410, but only momentarily as Lorenzo hit back with his penultimate lap.

Completing the front row after another superb qualifying practice will be Randy de Puniet, and the LCR Honda rider’s consistency throughout the session was impressive.

The Frenchman led until ten minutes before the end when the battle heated up, eventually lapping a tiny 0.102s behind Stoner to make it three front-row starts in succession.

Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa also made a late surge and he sat on the provisional front row for a few minutes before eventually finishing fourth, just eight hundredths of a second off De Puniet in a breathless final few laps.

Ben Spies also made a charge at the end of the session and improved his standing considerably, the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider following up impressive work on his first viewing of the Catalunya circuit in free practice with fifth place on the starting grid.

Andrea Dovizioso completed the second row as he took his Repsol Honda round in the sixth best time.

Loris Capirossi will have been pleased with the marked improvement on the GSV-R of the Rizla Suzuki team as he placed seventh, with rookies Marco Simoncelli (San Carlo Honda Gresini) and Álvaro Bautista (Rizla Suzuki) also taking third row places.

Bautista had been as high as fourth midway through the session but still took his best qualification so far this season.

Colin Edwards (Monster Yamaha Tech3) and Nicky Hayden (Ducati Team) were 10th and 11th respectively as they were bumped down the order in the latter stages.

Their positions reflected a penalty applied to Aleix Espargaró (Pramac Ducati), who originally was classified eighth but had his fastest lap cancelled after having cut the corner between turns one and two.

The Gran Premi Aperol de Catalunya MotoGP race gets underway at 2pm local time on Sunday.

MotoGP Qualifying Positions – Barcelona, Saturday, July 03, 2010

Pos.Num.RiderNationTeamBikeKm/hTimeGap 1st/Prev.
199Jorge LORENZOSPAFiat

Yamaha Team		Yamaha321.91’42.046
227Casey STONERAUSDucati

Team		Ducati323.41’42.4100.364 /

0.364
314Randy DE PUNIETFRALCR

Honda MotoGP		Honda322.61’42.5120.466 /

0.102
426Dani PEDROSASPARepsol

Honda Team		Honda326.81’42.5920.546 /

0.080
511Ben SPIESUSAMonster

Yamaha Tech 3		Yamaha319.51’42.7100.664 /

0.118
64Andrea DOVIZIOSOITARepsol

Honda Team		Honda324.21’42.8660.820 /

0.156
765Loris CAPIROSSIITARizla

Suzuki MotoGP		Suzuki321.61’42.9030.857 /

0.037
858Marco SIMONCELLIITASan

Carlo Honda Gresini		Honda322.81’42.9940.948 /

0.091
919Alvaro BAUTISTASPARizla

Suzuki MotoGP		Suzuki327.21’43.0250.979 /

0.031
105Colin EDWARDSUSAMonster

Yamaha Tech 3		Yamaha316.41’43.0591.013 /

0.034
1169Nicky HAYDENUSADucati

Team		Ducati325.71’43.0681.022 /

0.009
1241Aleix ESPARGAROSPAPramac

Racing Team		Ducati321.31’43.3801.334 /

0.312
1340Hector BARBERASPAPaginas

Amarillas Aspar		Ducati324.21’43.4171.371 /

0.037
1433Marco MELANDRIITASan

Carlo Honda Gresini		Honda324.41’43.6211.575 /

0.204
1536Mika KALLIOFINPramac

Racing Team		Ducati324.01’43.6851.639 /

0.064
1664Kousuke AKIYOSHIJPNInterwetten

Honda MotoGP		Honda315.61’45.5773.531 /

1.892
178Wataru

YOSHIKAWA		JPNFiat Yamaha TeamYamaha317.21’45.7593.713 / 0.182

Moto2 Grid

Having won twice this season from his two previous Moto2 pole position starts, Andrea Iannone will go for a third victory of 2010 from top spot on the grid on Sunday. The Italian’s time of 1’47.493 on his penultimate lap of the qualifying session meant he ended the hour 0.267s clear on the timesheet.

The closest rider to him was Tech 3 Moto2’s Yuki Takahashi as the Japanese took his best qualification of the season so far in second, with Thomas Lüthi (Interwetten Moriwaki Moto2) the third and final rider under the 1’48” mark as he remained strong in spite of his injured collarbone.

Championship leader Toni Elías (Gresini Racing Moto2) will complete the front row after setting the fourth best time of the session.

Second row positions were secured by Jules Cluzel (Forward Racing) and Carmelo Morales, who is riding as substitute for the injured Axel Pons on the Tenerife 40 Pons team this weekend.

Technomag-CIP rider Shoya Tomizawa – currently second in the Championship – will also be on row two despite a crash late in the session, with Ratthapark Wilairot (Thai Honda PTT Singha-SAG) completing the top eight.

Kenny Noyes (Jack&Jones by Antonio Banderas) and Roberto Rolfo (Italtrans STR) took top ten times, and British rider Scott Redding (Marc VDS Racing Team) was 14th.

Moto2 Qualifying Positions – Barcelona, Saturday, July 3, 2010

Pos.Num.RiderNationTeamBikeKm/hTimeGap 1st/Prev.
129Andrea IANNONEITAFimmco

Speed Up		Speed Up276.31’47.493
272Yuki TAKAHASHIJPNTech

3 Racing		Tech 3280.21’47.7600.267 /

0.267
312Thomas LUTHISWIInterwetten

Moriwaki Moto2		Moriwaki275.91’47.9730.480 /

0.213
424Toni ELIASSPAGresini

Racing Moto2		Moriwaki273.61’48.0890.596 /

0.116
516Jules CLUZELFRAForward

Racing		Suter278.11’48.1330.640 /

0.044
631Carmelo MORALESSPATenerife

40 Pons		Pons Kalex270.91’48.1640.671 /

0.031
748Shoya TOMIZAWAJPNTechnomag-CIPSuter272.91’48.1920.699 / 0.028
814Ratthapark

WILAIROT		THAThai Honda PTT Singha SAGBimota274.01’48.2240.731 / 0.032
99Kenny NOYESUSAJack

& Jones by A.Banderas		Promoharris273.31’48.2910.798 / 0.067
1044Roberto ROLFOITAItaltrans

S.T.R.		Suter273.11’48.3660.873 /

0.075
1160Julian SIMONSPAMapfre

Aspar Team		Suter274.11’48.3730.880 /

0.007
1217Karel ABRAHAMCZECardion

AB Motoracing		FTR277.81’48.4380.945 /

0.065
133Simone CORSIITAJIR

Moto2		Motobi280.21’48.4470.954 /

0.009
1445Scott REDDINGGBRMarc

VDS Racing Team		Suter270.91’48.4800.987 /

0.033
1555Hector FAUBELSPAMarc

VDS Racing Team		Suter276.91’48.4910.998 /

0.011
1677Dominique

AEGERTER		SWITechnomag-CIPSuter275.91’48.4951.002 / 0.004
1710Fonsi NIETOSPAHoliday

Gym G22		Moriwaki275.21’48.5631.070 /

0.068
1840Sergio GADEASPATenerife

40 Pons		Pons Kalex277.81’48.5711.078 /

0.008
1941Arne TODEGERRacing

Team Germany		Suter273.91’48.5871.094 /

0.016
206Alex DEBONSPAAeroport

de Castello – Ajo		FTR272.31’48.6131.120 /

0.026
2163Mike DI MEGLIOFRAMapfre

Aspar Team		Suter274.91’48.6201.127 /

0.007
2235Raffaele DE ROSAITATech

3 Racing		Tech 3273.21’48.6211.128 /

0.001
2368Yonny HERNANDEZCOLBlusens-STXBQR-Moto2266.31’48.6401.147 / 0.019
2452Lukas PESEKCZEMatteoni

CP Racing		Moriwaki274.41’48.6771.184 /

0.037
2518Jordi TORRESSPAMR

Griful		Promoharris268.51’48.7451.252 /

0.068
2625Alex BALDOLINIITACaretta

Technology Race Dept		I.C.P.275.71’48.8031.310 /

0.058
274Ricard CARDUSSPAViessmann

Kiefer Racing		Suter276.51’48.8071.314 /

0.004
287Dani RIVASSPAMR

Griful		Promoharris267.81’48.8881.395 /

0.081
298Anthony WESTAUSMZ

Racing Team		MZ-RE Honda272.11’48.9281.435 /

0.040
3015Alex DE ANGELISRSMRSM

Team Scot		Force GP210271.61’48.9421.449 /

0.014
3161Vladimir IVANOVUKRGresini

Racing Moto2		Moriwaki273.81’49.0361.543 /

0.094
322Gabor TALMACSIHUNFimmco

Speed Up		Speed Up278.11’49.0471.554 /

0.011
3359Niccolo CANEPAITARSM

Team Scot		Force GP210271.01’49.1311.638 /

0.084
3419Xavier SIMEONBELHoliday

Gym G22		Moriwaki269.91’49.1691.676 /

0.038
3576Bernat MARTINEZSPAMaquinza-SAG

Team		Bimota265.61’49.1881.695 /

0.019
3611Yusuke TESHIMAJPNJIR

Moto2		Motobi274.91’49.2091.716 /

0.021
3771Claudio CORTIITAForward

Racing		Suter271.71’49.2721.779 /

0.063
385Joan OLIVESPAJack

& Jones by A.Banderas		Promoharris268.71’49.3141.821 / 0.042
3953Valentin DEBISEFRAWTR

San Marino Team		ADV272.21’49.4391.946 /

0.125
4095Mashel AL NAIMIQATBlusens-STXBQR-Moto2275.21’49.7232.230 / 0.284
4121Vladimir LEONOVRUSVector

Kiefer Racing		Suter268.91’50.1502.657 /

0.427
4239Robertino PIETRIVENItaltrans

S.T.R.		Suter271.21’50.1832.690 /

0.033

125 GP Grid

Marc Márquez took pole position for the 125cc race in Barcelona – his third in a row – thanks to a qualifying lap of 1’50.543 on Saturday afternoon, as he turned his dominance in the two free practice sessions into a qualifying result. The young Spaniard was 0.266s faster than rival Pol Espargaró (Tuenti Racing), who secured second place on the grid for Sunday’s race.

British rider Bradley Smith was third as he showed no signs of any problems from a crash at the end of the morning practice session, and was a further 0.21s down on Espargaró. His Bancaja Aspar team-mate and current Championship leader Nico Terol completed the front row.

Sandro Cortese (Avant Mitsubishi Ajo), Tomoyoshi Koyama (Racing Team Germany), Esteve Rabat (Blusens-STX) and Efrén Vázquez (Tuenti Racing) completed the top eight and took places on the second row.

125 GP Qualifying Positions – Barcelona, Saturday, July 3, 2010

Pos.Num.RiderNationTeamBikeKm/hTimeGap 1st/Prev.
193Marc MARQUEZSPARed

Bull Ajo Motorsport		Derbi232.81’50.543
244Pol ESPARGAROSPATuenti

Racing		Derbi232.91’50.8090.266 /

0.266
338Bradley SMITHGBRBancaja

Aspar Team		Aprilia233.11’51.0190.476 /

0.210
440Nicolas TEROLSPABancaja

Aspar Team		Aprilia234.91’51.0660.523 /

0.047
511Sandro CORTESEGERAvant

Mitsubishi Ajo		Derbi230.31’51.5461.003 /

0.480
671Tomoyoshi KOYAMAJPNRacing

Team Germany		Aprilia230.91’51.8241.281 /

0.278
712Esteve RABATSPABlusens-STXAprilia233.41’51.8901.347 / 0.066
87Efren VAZQUEZSPATuenti

Racing		Derbi233.21’51.9511.408 /

0.061
95Alexis MASBOUFRAOngetta

Team		Aprilia231.71’52.3161.773 /

0.365
1014Johann ZARCOFRAWTR

San Marino Team		Aprilia231.91’52.4781.935 /

0.162
1115Simone GROTZKYJITAFontana

Racing		Aprilia232.21’52.5381.995 /

0.060
1294Jonas FOLGERGEROngetta

Team		Aprilia229.31’52.5802.037 /

0.042
1323Alberto MONCAYOSPAAndalucia

Cajasol		Aprilia227.71’52.7582.215 /

0.178
1435Randy

KRUMMENACHER		SWIStipa-Molenaar Racing GPAprilia226.81’52.7652.222 / 0.007
1539Luis SALOMSPAStipa-Molenaar

Racing GP		Aprilia230.61’52.8012.258 /

0.036
1699Danny WEBBGBRAndalucia

Cajasol		Aprilia232.01’52.8612.318 /

0.060
1750Sturla

FAGERHAUG		NORAirAsia – Sepang Int. CircuitAprilia227.21’52.8842.341 / 0.023
1863Zulfahmi

KHAIRUDDIN		MALAirAsia – Sepang Int. CircuitAprilia228.41’53.1792.636 / 0.295
1926Adrian MARTINSPAAeroport

de Castello – Ajo		Aprilia232.61’53.4862.943 /

0.307
2053Jasper IWEMANEDCBC

Corse		Aprilia226.81’53.5252.982 /

0.039
2155Isaac VIÑALESSPACatalunya

Racing Team		Aprilia225.91’53.6093.066 /

0.084
2259Johnny ROSELLSPASAG

Castrol		Honda225.01’53.8243.281 /

0.215
2378Marcel

SCHROTTER		GERInterwetten Honda 125Honda228.01’54.0553.512 / 0.231
2469Louis ROSSIFRACBC

Corse		Aprilia224.91’54.5103.967 /

0.455
2587Luca MARCONIITAOngetta

Team		Aprilia224.71’54.6954.152 /

0.185
2658Joan PERELLOSPASAG

Castrol		Honda221.91’54.7354.192 /

0.040
2760Michael VAN

DER MARK		NEDLambretta Reparto CorseLambretta221.81’55.1574.614 / 0.422
2884Jakub KORNFEILCZERacing

Team Germany		Aprilia224.51’55.7775.234 /

0.620
2932Lorenzo

SAVADORI		ITAMatteoni CP RacingAprilia223.61’56.2115.668 / 0.434
3072Marco RAVAIOLIITALambretta

Reparto Corse		Lambretta216.91’56.5446.001 /

0.333
3117Eduard LOPEZSPACatalunya

Racing Team		Aprilia214.81’57.1986.655 /

0.654
3256Peter SEBESTYENHUNRight

Guard Racing		Aprilia212.91’57.4046.861 /

0.206

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