MotoGP News
Date: 15/July/2012
Having set a record-breaking pace on his way to leading the three practice sessions prior to MotoGP qualifying at Mugello, Championship leader Jorge Lorenzo looked set to claim his 21st premier-class pole.
But Honda’s Dani Pedrosa stepped up to challenge the Yamaha rider during the one-hour session - and when a furious Lorenzo was forced to abandon his final lap due to a technical problem, it was Pedrosa that emerged with a surprise pole.
Pedrosa said: “We didn’t start the weekend as fast as Jorge, but we made some improvements. Jorge is riding so good here and has a very fast pace, so it will be difficult tomorrow to be this fast every lap. But we are trying to do more to improve the bike and I’m quite confident. We will give all we have.
“It’s so good to have dry sessions all weekend. It’s been so tricky to find the set-up and things on the bike in other races. Tyre choice will be very important tomorrow. We have two hard spec tyres, with only a little difference between them. So it is not 100 percent clear.”
Lorenzo, who had punched the fuel tank of his bike with frustration as he cruised down pit lane, explained that the electronic problem had been getting worse before his M1 finally gave up at the final turn.
“I’ve been quite fast all weekend. Always in first position and with a good pace. This is the important thing,” Lorenzo began.
“We had a problem with the electronics, it was getting worse every corner and so I couldn’t finish my best lap in qualifying. It wasn’t a perfect lap but was quick enough to have pole position.
“But in general, apart from this mistake, everything is going well. On the straight we are not losing any speed which is new for us! So we are optimistic for the race.”
Lorenzo added that he doesn’t expect the technical problem to be a factor in the race. “Yamaha told me there is no problem for tomorrow. They know what happened,” he said.
Pedrosa’s first victory of the season last weekend in German means he is now Lorenzo nearest challenger, sitting 14-points behind.
Pramac’s Hector Barbera will complete the front row after a MotoGP best of third, with Pedrosa’s team-mate and reigning champion Casey Stoner starting fifth on the grid, behind Ducati’s Nicky Hayden.
Stoner has slipped to third in the standings after his last-lap Sachsenring accident.
No comments:
Post a Comment