US MotoGP: Lorenzo bounces back to claim pole

Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha Factory Racing) bounced back from crashing out of the final practice session at Laguna Seca to claim pole for tomorrow’s race.

Unshaken by a big highside suffered at turn 5 after making a practice start, that led to the Spaniard being struck by his YZR-M1 whilst sliding through the gravel, Lorenzo recovered in qualifying to set the fastest time around the Californian circuit.

Casey Stoner (Repsol Honda) was unable to match his pace set in FP3, leaving it to the final moments of qualifying to put in a fast lap that placed the Australian second fastest and relegated Ben Spies to starting from the second row in fourth place. Stoner’s team mate Dani Pedrosa completes the front row of the grid, qualifying in third.

Spies (Yamaha Factory Racing) was unable to improve on his time after losing the front end and crashing out of the session, with his Yamaha disappearing under the air fence.

Marco Simoncelli (San Carlo Honda Gresini) will start from fifth, in front of fellow Italian Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda).

Valentino Rossi equalled his best qualifying position of the season so far on the GP11.1 Ducati, starting from seventh place ahead of Hector Barbera (Mapfre Aspar Team) and Nicky Hayden (Ducati Team) who will start from eighth and ninth respectively.

Brit Cal Crutchlow put in a strong performance on his debut at the American circuit, qualifying in tenth ahead of Texan team mate Colin Edwards.

1 Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha Factory Racing 1:21.202
2 Casey Stoner Repsol Honda Team +0.072
3 Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team +0.183
4 Ben Spies Yamaha Factory Racing +0.376
5 Marco Simoncelli San Carlo Honda Gresini +0.494
6 Andrea Dovizioso Repsol Honda Team +0.529
7 Valentino Rossi Ducati Team +1.033
8 Hector Barbera Mapfre Aspar Team MotoGP +1.036
9 Nicky Hayden Ducati Team +1.069
10 Cal Crutchlow Monster Yamaha Tech 3 +1.183
11 Colin Edwards Monster Yamaha Tech 3 +1.318
12 Alvaro Bautista Rizla Suzuki MotoGP +1.467
13 Karol Abraham Cardion AB Motoracing +1.691