French MotoGP, Le Mans
Date: 16-17 May
Saturday 16 May: Qualifying: 1200-1500, BBC Red Button/online (repeated on BBC Red Button from 1800. Not Freeview) Sunday 17 May: 125cc and 250cc races: 0950-1205, BBC Red Button/online (repeated on BBC Red Button from 1500-1130 Tuesday. Not Freeview) Race live: 1230-1400, BBC Two/online (repeated on BBC Red Button from 1500-1100 Tuesday. Not Freeview) ; MotoGP Extra, 1400-1430, BBC Red Button/online

Pedrosa snatched pole on the final lap

Dani Pedrosa snatched pole position for Sunday's French MotoGP with a stunning last lap to push Jorge Lorenzo into second place, with Casey Stoner third.

Pedrosa came home five-thousandths of a second ahead of his fellow Spaniard, who had also set his best time on the final lap.

Championship leader Valentino Rossi starts from fourth place, ahead of Andrea Dovizioso and Colin Edwards.

Sete Gibernau misses the race after fracturing his collarbone in practice.

It was Pedrosa's third pole position in four years at the track, and after Saturday's wildly mixed weather conditions, he said a decent starting place for the race was even more important.

"It's lucky that we had good weather for this afternoon and for most of the morning session because it allowed us to test a few set-up options and learn more about the machine at this track," he said.

606: DEBATE Your predictions for the French Grand Prix

"We still have work to do before the race though, so we're not going to relax at all.

"It's a long race tomorrow and there are some improvements I'd like to make to the machine settings to give us a good chance.

"And of course the weather can play a big part at this circuit as we've seen many times before. We have to prepare for many conditions, so we're staying focused."

Britain's James Toseland finished in 12th place, but he said he was reason to think his luck could change soon.

"I'm sorry to my guys really for not being a bit further up the grid, but we're so close to being on the edge of the top six and I feel I'm making the progress I've been looking for," he said.

"I really feel though that I'm getting close and today I started to enjoy riding and not thinking about always struggling. That was a good feeling."

The wet conditions in free practice claimed a victim when Gibernau, who has just returned to MotoGP after two seasons away, fell heavily on his left shoulder and aggravated an old injury.

It is the third time the 36-year-old has broken a clavicle bone in a fall and although he hopes to return in two races' time, for his home race in Barcelona, team manager Pablo Nieto admitted his road to recovery could be tough.

"The important thing now is for Sete to get back to Barcelona to the doctors he has always visited during his career, and they will help us decide what to do next," he said.

"Obviously it will all hinge on how much time he needs to recover, which could be longer than for a young rider."

Earlier on, the British youngsters had a good day in qualifying for the 125cc race.

Scott Redding qualified in second place behind Marc Marquez of Spain, with Bradley Smith in sixth place and Danny Webb in 10th spot.

French MotoGP qualifying result:

1 D Pedrosa (Sp) Honda 1:33.974
2 J Lorenzo (Sp) Fiat Yamaha 1.33.979
3 C Stoner (Aus) Ducati 1.34.049
4 V Rossi (It) Fiat Yamaha 1:34.106
5 A Dovizioso (It) Honda 1:34.300
6 C Edwards (US) Tech 3 Yamaha 1:34.330
7 C Vermuelen (Aus) Suzuki 1:34.676
8 L Capirossi (It) Suzuki 1:34.839
9 M Melandri (It) Kawasaki 1:35.008
10 R de Puniet (Fr) Honda 1:35.399
11 T Elias (Sp) Honda Gresini 1:35.431
12 J Toseland (GB) Tech 3 Yamaha 1:35.524
13 N Hayden (US) Ducati 1:35.682
14 M Kallio (Fin) Pramac Racing 1:35.741
15 Y Takahashi (Jpn) Scot Racing 1:35.774
16 A de Angelis (RSM) Honda Gresini 1:35.785
17 N Canepa (It) Pramac Racing 1:36.136 sec

250cc qualifying result:

1 A Bautista (Sp) Aprilia 1:38.270
2 M Simoncelli (Ita) Gilera 1:38.652
3 H Aoyama (Jpn) Honda 1:38.682

125cc qualifying result:

1 M Marquez (Spn) KTM 1 min 47.080 secs
2 S Redding (GB) Aprilia 1:47.173
3 N Terol (Spn) Aprilia 1:47.783
Selected others:
6 B Smith (GB) Aprilia 1:48.115
10 D Webb (GB) Aprilia 1:49.439

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