Italy MotoGP, Mugello
Date: Saturday 5 June/Sunday 6 June
Saturday BBC coverage: Qualifying - 1150-1500, BBC Red Button/online
Sunday BBC coverage: 125cc and Moto2 races - 0950-1205, BBC Red Button/online; Race live - 1230-1400, BBC Two/online; MotoGP Extra - 1400-1430, BBC Red Button/online
 Pedrosa is on pole for the second time this season |
Dani Pedrosa secured his second pole position of the year for Sunday's Italian MotoGP as racing resumed after Valentino Rossi's massive crash. Pedrosa edged out championship leader Jorge Lorenzo with a fastest lap of one minute 48.819 seconds as the Spanish duo capitalised on Rossi's absence. Ducati duo Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden took third and fourth place, with Colin Edwards in fifth. World champion Rossi is out for up to three months after his practice crash. Lorenzo, who has won the last two races, looked on course for his first pole position of the season as he lead the timings with 10 minutes of the session remaining.  | 606: DEBATE |
But Pedrosa shaved 0.177secs off his best lap time to earn the 15th MotoGP pole position of his career. Pedrosa said he was delighted with his day's work but he shared the general mood of sadness at Rossi's accident. "It's great to be on pole and we've been working very hard through free practice and in qualifying to improve things from yesterday," he said. "We have achieved this, so I'm satisfied. Being on the front row is the important thing and we have to keep our concentration because to win the race is the target - we have to make it tomorrow. "I didn't see Rossi's crash, but what I've heard about the injury doesn't sound good. "It's a pity because all of us riders know how you feel when you are hurt, and I just hope that the operation goes well for him because the first operation is always the most important." Championship leader Lorenzo shared Pedrosa's disappointment at the misfortune of his team-mate and closest rival Rossi. "I want to say how sad I am for Valentino," said Lorenzo. "I know how bad it is to be injured, especially at your home race, and it looks very painful for him. "I hope he recovers quickly because the championship will not be the same without him." Behind the front five, Randy de Puniet was sixth fastest, ahead of American rookie Ben Spies, who looked to have adapted well to the circuit on his first appearance at the track. Andrea Dovizioso, Aleix Espargaro and Hiroshi Aoyama complete the top 10. None of this season's races have yet been won by the pole sitter.
Italian MotoGP qualifying result: 1 D Pedrosa (Sp) Repsol Honda 1:48.819
2 J Lorenzo (Sp) Fiat Yamaha 1:48.996
3 C Stoner (Aus) Ducati 1:49.432
4 N Hayden (US) Ducati 1:49.546
5 C Edwards (US) Yamaha 1:49.683
6 R de Puniet (Fr) Honda 1:49.737
7 B Spies (US) Yamaha 1:49.861
8 A Dovizioso (It) Repsol Honda 1:50.065
9 A Espargaro (Sp) Pramac Racing 1:50.168
10 H Aoyama (Jpn) Honda 1:50.224
11 M Simoncelli (Ita) San Carlo Honda 1:50.434
12 L Capirossi (It) Rizla Suzuki 1:50.479
13 H Barbera (Sp) Paginas Amarillas Aspar Ducati 1:50.561
14 M Meandri (It) San Carlo Honda 1:50.664
15 M Kallio (Fin) Pramac Ducati 1:50.970
16 A Bautista (Sp) Rizla Suzuki 1:53.243
Moto2 qualifying result: 1 A Iannone (It) Speed Up 1:55.598
2 T Elias (Sp) Moriwaki 1:55.858
3 A de Angelis (SM) Force GP210 1:56.222
125cc qualifying result: 1 S Cortese (Ger) Derbi 1:58.315
2 P Espargaro (Spa) Derbi 1:58.336
3 B Smith (GB) Aprilia 1:58.572
Selected other: 13 D Webb (GB) Aprilia 2:00.131
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