British MotoGP: Colin Edwards denies Valentino Rossi as Yamaha dominate British MotoGP qualifying

American Colin Edwards claimed his second career MotoGP pole position this afternoon at Donington Park to deny Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi in an enthralling end to final qualifying.

The Texan clocked a best time of 1.28.531 on his last flying lap to deny Rossi a fifth pole position in eight races.

Edwards edged out the 28-year-old Italian by just 0.146s after an impressive late attack on Michelin’s soft qualifying tyre.

The double World Superbike champion was 0.369s up on Rossi in the first three timed splits and despite losing 0.2s in the final section he secured his second pole of the season to follow up his pole in the French GP in Le Mans last month.

Edwards had narrowly missed out on grabbing top spot five minutes earlier when he clocked a 1.28.931 lap to go second. That was 0.254s behind Rossi after he’d been 0.258s up on the seven-times world champion’s time in the first three timed sections.

Edwards said: “Yesterday was unbelievable but today it all worked out pretty good.

“We started the session and it was looking like it could or could not rain but it held off.

“The qualifying session was typical.

“We went out and tried some race tyres and thanks to Michelin for bringing the good race tyres, for me anyway.

” I felt comfortable. I got out there on my qualifying lap and thought as long as I get the left side scrubbed a little I’d be fine. Craner Curves is deadly if you don’t have the left side of the tyre scrubbed.

“The second tyre I pulled the pin and took a lot of risks, that’s the only way you get on pole anyway.”

Rossi had to settle for second, though he’s now started on the front row of the grid in seven out of eight races in 2007.

He shrugged off a crash yesterday in the rain at Coppice and a slow speed tumble at Redgate this morning to jump to the top of the timesheets with ten minutes remaining.

His 1.28.677 moved him 0.384s despite being baulked by Kurtis Roberts exiting Coppice. Rossi gave Roberts a glare as he passed him but it still looked good enough for pole until Edwards’ late burst.

Rossi said: “The track is fantastic, especially with the 800 because it is possible to use all the good lines.

“In my good lap I took Roberts who was going very slow on the line so I had to close the throttle and lost a little bit.

“Being second is okay, especially after the disaster of this morning because of the difficult tyre rule.

” If it is too cold we don’t have the tyre and it is quite dangerous.

“I am quite happy about this afternoon. The bike set up is good.

“Fortunately this afternoon the Michelin tyres worked well. We have two options for tomorrow and two or three small things to change.

“Now we have just to hope we have good weather.”

Last year’s British GP winner Dani Pedrosa claimed the last place on the front row when he posted a 1.28.863 with two minutes remaining.

He had been 0.122s up on Rossi’s time after the first three splits but ended up 0.186s slower and 0.332s adrift of Edwards.

The Spaniard said: “I think today it went quite good. We did a good job in the morning and this afternoon.

“We had some small problems in the qualifying session at the end with the qualifying tyre.

“I am happy to be on the front row because here it is very important.

“The race is the most important and I hope the weather is good tomorrow but we will see.

“Even for rain we did a good job in practice so I am quite confident.”

Fourth place went to rejuvenated American Nicky Hayden, who was quickest in this morning’s final free practice session, as the track remained dry all day despite gloomy forecasts.

With nine minutes remaining a 1.29.212 lifted the reigning world champion into second behind Rossi, but he was 0.535s slower than his great 2006 title rival.

With three minutes left on the clock he posted a 1.29.025 to move back into third but he was bumped off at the last moment, though fourth is easily his best ever grid position on the factory Honda 800.

His previous best qualifying display was sixth in Istanbul.

MotoGP world championship leader Casey Stoner will start fifth on the grid after he clocked a best time of 1.29.061.

His hopes of improving that on his last Bridgestone qualifier were ruined when he lost the front end of his factory Ducati GP7 at the Goddards corner.

He was on course to set the fastest time at that point with five minutes remaining as he’d gone through the first three sections 0.258s quicker than Rossi.

Stoner starts tomorrow’s 30-lap race holding a 14-point lead over Rossi.

STANDINGS

1. Edwards  Yamaha 1.28.531
2. Rossi  Yamaha 1.28.677
3. Pedrosa  Honda  1.28.863
4. Hayden  Honda  1.28.025
5. Stoner  Ducati  1.29.061
6. Hopkins  Suzuki  1.29.073
7. Checa  Honda  1.29.281
8. De Puniet  Kawasaki 1.29.415
9. Melandri  Honda  1.29.498
10. Elias  Honda  1.29.711
11. Nakano  Honda  1.29.718
12. Vermeulen  Suzuki  1.29.793
13. Capirossi  Ducati  1.29.900
14. Hoffman  Ducati  1.29.911
15. Barros  Ducati  1.30.071
16. Guintoli  Yamaha 1.30.271
17. West  Kawasaki 1.30.718
18. Tamada  Yamaha 1.30.800
19. Kurtis Roberts KR212V 1.31.543