French MotoGP, Le Mans
Date: 22-23 May
Saturday 22 May: Qualifying: 1150-1500, BBC Red Button/online
Sunday 23 May: 125cc and Moto2 races: 0950-1205, BBC Red Button/online Race live: 1230-1400, BBC Two/online MotoGP Extra: 1400-14:30, BBC Red Button/online

The charismatic Rossi is only four points behind Lorenzo in the standings

Valentino Rossi again left his rivals in his wake as he took pole position for Sunday's MotoGP at Le Mans.

The reigning world champion clocked one minute 33.408 seconds, with team-mate and Championship leader Jorge Lorenzo second and Dani Pedrosa third.

Australia Casey Stoner and American Nicky Hayden completed the top five on a day of warm sunshine in France.

In the 125cc category, Britain's Bradley Smith was third fastest in qualifying with Danny Webb 11th.

A hard-fought session saw the lead change hands several times in the closing minutes, with Stoner having been in contention for a long time on a bike featuring modifications to its front forks.

But Rossi stepped up with the 28th of his 30 laps, earning his first Le Mans pole since 2005, and Lorenzo followed even later in the session to take second.

Alvaro Bautista was ruled out of the race after a crash in the morning practice session.

The Spaniard broke his collarbone in a fall in training last week but was optimistic of competing before he aggravated the injuries after falling and landing hard on the track in only his third lap of the day.

He was one of three riders to fall but the others, Ben Spies of Monster Yamaha and Pramac Racing's Mika Kallio, returned to action in the afternoon.

Rossi, keen to make amends after crashing last year and failing to win any points with a 16th-place finish said: "I'm so happy about these weather conditions and I feel confident about the bike.

"Pole position is always good and that is a good lap time, for the race I am quite worried about my shoulder because after about 10 or 15 laps I started to lose power."

MotoGP qualifying result:

1 V Rossi (Ita) Yamaha 1 min 33.408 secs
2 J Lorenzo (Spa) Yamaha 1:33.462
3 D Pedrosa (Spa) Honda 1:33.573
4 C Stoner (Aus) Ducati 1:33.824
5 N Hayden (US) Ducati 1:33.845

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version