Mugello MotoGP: Bradley Smith and Scott Redding 1-2 on grid
Bradley Smith and Scott Redding claimed a stunning British 1-2 on the grid for tomorrow’s Italian 125GP race in Mugello.
Incredibly, today’s result is the first time that a British duo has occupied the first two places on a Grand Prix grid for 30 years!
Aspar Aprilia rider Smith claimed the fourth pole position of his career with a brilliant lap of 1.58.134 with four minutes of a sun-drenched qualifying session remaining.
And Blusens Aprilia rider Redding claimed his second front row start in equally impressive fashion as he seized second place on his last flying lap.
The 16-year-old clocked a best of 1.58.431 to finish just 0.297s outside of Smith’s best time.
World championship leader Julian Simon was third and 0.441s off the pace of 18-year-old Smith, who had first jumped to the top of the timesheets with 22 minutes remaining.
Smith goes into tomorrow’s 20–lap race trailing Spanish team-mate Simon by just five-and-a-half points and he looks a good bet to mount a serious challenge for his second victory of the 2009 campaign.
Completing the front of the grid is third Aspar Aprilia rider Sergio Gadea, the Spaniard claiming fourth with a best lap of 1.58.621.
Danny Webb made it three Brits in the top ten as the Degraaf Aprilia rider ended up 10th on the grid with a best time of 1.59.478.
Matt Hoyle is not competing in this weekend’s fifth round of the world championship in Mugello following the withdrawal of the Chinese-backed Haojue squad.
The new project, run by former Suzuki MotoGP boss Garry Taylor, has been badly hindered by a woefully slow engine. With Mugello such a horsepower dominated circuit with a home straight over 0.7 miles in length, the team have opted to sit out the Italian clash.
It is not clear whether the team will return for the Catalunya 125GP in Barcelona on June 14.
1 Bradley SMITH GBR Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc Aprilia 1’58.134
2 Scott REDDING GBR Blusens Aprilia Aprilia 1’58.431
3 Julian SIMON SPA Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc Aprilia 1’58.575
4 Sergio GADEA SPA Bancaja Aspar Team 125cc Aprilia 1’58.621
5 Marc MARQUEZ SPA Red Bull KTM Moto Sport KTM 1’58.947
6 Andrea IANNONE ITA Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. Aprilia 1’59.121
7 Johann ZARCO FRA WTR San Marino Team Aprilia 1’59.178
8 Pol ESPARGARO SPA Derbi Racing Team Derbi 1’59.186
9 Sandro CORTESE GER Ajo Interwetten Derbi 1’59.358
10 Danny WEBB GBR Degraaf Grand Prix Aprilia 1’59.478
11 Simone CORSI ITA Jack & Jones Team Aprilia 1’59.589
12 Nicolas TEROL SPA Jack & Jones Team Aprilia 1’59.600
13 Randy KRUMMENACHER SWI Degraaf Grand Prix Aprilia 1’59.726
14 Esteve RABAT SPA Blusens Aprilia Aprilia 1’59.974
15 Efren VAZQUEZ SPA Derbi Racing Team Derbi 2’00.032
16 Lorenzo ZANETTI ITA Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. Aprilia 2’00.113
17 Joan OLIVE SPA Derbi Racing Team Derbi 2’00.118
18 Dominique AEGERTER SWI Ajo Interwetten Derbi 2’00.149
19 Stefan BRADL GER Viessmann Kiefer Racing Aprilia 2’00.335
20 Lorenzo SAVADORI ITA Fontana Racing Aprilia 2’00.384
21 Riccardo MORETTI ITA Elligi Racing Aprilia 2’00.392
22 Takaaki NAKAGAMI JPN Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. Aprilia 2’00.445
23 Jonas FOLGER GER Ongetta Team I.S.P.A. Aprilia 2’00.672
24 Luigi MORCIANO ITA Junior GP Racing Dream Aprilia 2’01.206
25 Lukas SEMBERA CZE Matteoni Racing Aprilia 2’01.406
26 Davide STIRPE ITA CRP Racing Honda 2’01.425
27 Alessandro TONUCCI ITA Junior GP Racing Dream Aprilia 2’01.814
28 Tomoyoshi KOYAMA JPN Loncin Racing Loncin 2’02.353
29 Gennaro SABATINO ITA Junior GP Racing Dream Aprilia 2’02.821
30 Jasper IWEMA NED Racing Team Germany Honda 2’03.135
31 Alexis MASBOU FRA Loncin Racing Loncin 2’03.226
32 Luca MARCONI ITA CBC Corse Aprilia 2’04.577
33 Luca VITALI ITA CBC Corse Aprilia 2’05.793