Lorenzo rises to the occasion in new-look qualifying

MotoGP News

Date: 6/April/2013

Double World Champion Jorge Lorenzo excelled during the new high-stakes MotoGP qualifying format, which made its debut at the Losail in Qatar on Saturday night

Out has gone one-hour of traditional qualifying, to be replaced by an extra free practice session and frantic 15-minute pole shootout featuring the twelve fastest riders.

Unlike other knockout-style systems, the top ten MotoGP riders after free practice do not take part in Qualifying 1, where the remaining riders fight over the last two places in Q2.

For those going directly to Q2 there is little time to build up their qualifying speed, with just four fast laps, split between two runs, possible in the time available.

But it certainly suited Factory Yamaha star Lorenzo, who set the best lap of the weekend on his opening lap, then reclaimed pole from satellite Yamaha rider Cal Crutchlow by 0.202s on his final run.

Lorenzo said: “I’m really happy, for three or four laps we pushed to the limit. I knew Cal was really fast over one lap so I had to give the maximum. The important thing is that the Yamaha works here at this track.”

The Spaniard, winner from pole at Losail last year, admitted that the new system caused extra stress for the riders, but appreciated the entertainment value.

“The new qualifying format has been very positive and for the fans it is very good to watch. For the riders you are a little more nervous and you have less time to make a fast lap.

“The important thing now is to make a good start tomorrow, but if there are problems in the first laps we have to be patient and wait for the middle of the race.”

Lorenzo’s 2012 title rival Dani Pedrosa survived a close shave with rookie team-mate Marc Marquez to complete the front row in third.

Practice pace setter Marquez didn’t recover as well and was forced to settle for sixth, one place ahead of Lorenzo’s disappointed team-mate Valentino Rossi. Rossi, who is making his much-anticipated Yamaha race return on Sunday, said:

“Unfortunately in the qualifying session with the second tyre where we had to improve I was stuck in traffic. Our performance during free practice was better than this. For sure it is more difficult to start further behind, but we have a good pace so we can be quite competitive.”