Italian MotoGP: Raffaele de Rosa takes pole for 125cc race

Raffaele de Rosa has taken a career first pole position for the 125cc race at Mugello in Italy, while Britain’s Bradley Smith high-sided with less than a minute of final qualifying remaining.

Only 30 seconds of the session remained when Smith crashed his Polaris World Aprilia machine as he was set to take a fourth pole position in six races in 2008.

The 17-year-old, who claimed a career best second place in Le Mans earlier this month, had to be stretchered off to the circuit medical centre where he is being treated for right wrist and left ankle injuries.

If Bradley Smith is given the all-clear to race tomorrow he will start from seventh place on the grid.

Mike Di Meglio had control of the top spot for the majority of the session with Pol Espargaro, de Rosa and Sandro Cortese contesting for second place on the grid.

Reigning world champion Gabor Talmacsi eventually took the second spot with a time of 1’58″467, while Raffaele de Rosa’s pole position time was 1’58″302.

With French GP winner di Meglio third, Espargaro claimed the last spot on the front row despite a late attack from Sergio Gadea who will start fifth after he had been outside of the top ten during qualifying.

British riders Scott Redding and Danny Webb finished 16th and 17th respectively in what was the first first dry session of a weather-hit weekend.

1 R. DE ROSA ITA Onde 2000 KTM 1’58.302
2 G. TALMACSI HUN Bancaja Aspar Team + 0.165
3 M. DI MEGLIO FRA Ajo Motorsport + 0.188
4 P. ESPARGARO SPA Belson Derbi + 0.270
5 S. GADEA SPA Bancaja Aspar Team + 0.329
6 S. CORTESE GER Emmi – Caffe Latte + 0.356
7 B. SMITH GBR Polaris World + 0.514
8 S. CORSI ITA Jack & Jones WRB + 0.593
9 N. TEROL SPA Jack & Jones WRB + 0.763
10 T. KOYAMA JPN ISPA KTM Aran + 1.026
11 S. BRADL GER Grizzly Gas Kiefer Racing + 1.049
12 A. IANNONE ITA I.C. Team + 1.080
13 S. BONSEY USA Degraaf Grand Prix + 1.093
14 J. OLIVE SPA Belson Derbi + 1.183
15 T. NAKAGAMI JPN I.C. Team + 1.278
16 S. REDDING GBR Blusens Aprilia Junior + 1.398
17 D. WEBB GBR Degraaf Grand Prix + 1.578
18 M. RANSEDER AUT I.C. Team + 1.636
19 R. KRUMMENACHER SWI Red Bull KTM 125 + 2.039
20 E. RABAT SPA Repsol KTM 125cc + 2.238
21 S. BIANCO ITA S3+ WTR San Marino Team + 2.260
22 L. SAVADORI ITA RCGM + 2.614
23 M. MARQUEZ SPA Repsol KTM 125cc + 3.082
24 J. CLUZEL FRA Loncin Racing + 3.355
25 E. VAZQUEZ SPA Blusens Aprilia Junior + 3.460
26 D. AEGERTER SWI Ajo Motorsport + 3.497
27 P. NIETO SPA Onde 2000 KTM + 3.521
28 H. VAN DEN BERG NED Degraaf Grand Prix + 3.571
29 R. LACALENDOLA ITA Matteoni Racing + 3.598
30 R. MURESAN ROU Grizzly Gas Kiefer Racing + 3.795
31 L. ZANETTI ITA ISPA KTM Aran + 3.859
32 P. TUTUSAUS SPA Bancaja Aspar Team + 3.893
33 R. LASSER GER Grizzly Gas Kiefer Racing + 3.940
34 G. FERRO ITA Metasystem RS + 4.042
35 R. MORETTI ITA CRP Racing + 4.264
36 F. LAMBORGHINI ITA Junior GP Racing Dream + 4.477
37 L. ROSSI FRA FFM Honda GP 125 + 5.112
38 L. VITALI ITA RCGM + 5.919