Lorenzo’s perfect lap gives him pole at Valencia
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| Jorge Lorenzo |
Movistar Yamaha MotoGP's Jorge Lorenzo set today's already hot qualifying session at Valencia, Spain on fire, taking first place with a scorching 1'30,011s lap, a new circuit best lap record. Though team-mate Valentino Rossi will be starting tomorrow's Gran Premio de la Comunitat Valenciana from the back of the grid, he put in a solid effort until a small crash ended his session, leaving him in twelfth place.
Movistar Yamaha MotoGP's Jorge Lorenzo left no confusion this afternoon about his intentions of winning this years' MotoGP World Championship, setting a magnificent lap for pole position at the last qualifying session of the year. With no pressure to get a front start in qualifying, team-mate Valentino Rossi was steadily improving his pace throughout the session, but suffered a small crash at the final stages and ended the day having set the twelfth fastest time.
Fully focused on the task ahead, Lorenzo was calm and collected as he emerged from pit lane as the last rider to head out in the last 15-minute Q2 of the season. Once out on the relatively empty track, he stayed true to usual form and immediately dropped under the 1'31s mark with a 1'30.996s for provisional third position.
With a little less than nine minutes of the session remaining, he hurried back to the pits to start his second time attack a minute later. His next flying lap was a sensational 1'30,011s for pole position, enough to break the circuit best lap record, creating nearly half a second margin to his closest rival.
Lorenzo quickly headed back to box for a second stop, but neither he nor any of his competitors were able to come close to his superb lap time.
Teammate Rossi took a moment at the start of the session before he mounted his Yamaha YZR-M1 and had his first attempt of setting a hot lap. The Doctor clocked a 1'32.840s on his first try and bettered his time to 1'31.471s in the second before returning to the pits for a fresh rear tire.
Back on track with five minutes remaining, he used his third flying lap to warm up his tires to be able to push to the maximum on the next lap. Having picked up the pace, the nine-time World Champion had set a new personal best time for the first two sectors, but a small slide down the track meant the end of his session.
Though he set the twelfth fastest time, Rossi will be starting the race from last place on the grid, having collected a total of four penalty points on his racing license.
Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa will start tomorrow’s Valencia GP from second and third on the grid as they look to finish the season on a high note with victory after winning the last three races.
Marc secured second place behind Lorenzo after completing three runs in qualifying and taking provisional pole early in the session with his time of 1’30.499 on his first flying lap. Dani opted to make only two exits and improved on his second run with a lap time of 1’30.516 on his final flying lap, placing him alongside Marc on the front row, just 0.017 seconds off his teammate.
Results
| Pos. | Rider | Num | Nation | Team | Constructor | Time |
| 1 | LORENZO Jorge | 99 | SPA | Movistar Yamaha MotoGP | Yamaha | 1'30.011 |
| 2 | MARQUEZ Marc | 93 | SPA | Repsol Honda Team | Honda | 1'30.499 |
| 3 | PEDROSA Dani | 26 | SPA | Repsol Honda Team | Honda | 1'30.516 |
| 4 | ESPARGARO Aleix | 41 | SPA | Team Suzuki Ecstar | Suzuki | 1'30.917 |
| 5 | CRUTCHLOW Cal | 35 | GBR | LCR Honda | Honda | 1'30.948 |
| 6 | SMITH Bradley | 38 | GBR | Monster Yamaha Tech 3 | Yamaha | 1'31.012 |
| 7 | IANNONE Andrea | 29 | ITA | Ducati Team | Ducati | 1'31.056 |
| 8 | ESPARGARO Pol | 44 | SPA | Monster Yamaha Tech 3 | Yamaha | 1'31.080 |
| 9 | DOVIZIOSO Andrea | 4 | ITA | Ducati Team | Ducati | 1'31.245 |
| 10 | PETRUCCI Danilo | 9 | ITA | Pramac Racing | Ducati | 1'31.292 |
| 11 | VINALES Maverick | 25 | SPA | Team Suzuki Ecstar | Suzuki | 1'31.340 |
| 12 | ROSSI Valentino | 46 | ITA | Movistar Yamaha MotoGP | Yamaha | 1'31.471 |
| 13 | PIRRO Michele | 51 | ITA | Ducati Team | Ducati | 1'31.780 |
| 14 | BRADL Stefan | 6 | GER | Aprilia Racing Team Gresini | Aprilia | 1'31.824 |
| 15 | BARBERA Hector | 8 | SPA | Avintia Racing | Ducati | 1'31.851 |
| 16 | BAZ Loris | 76 | FRA | Athina Forward Racing | Forward Yamaha | 1'31.856 |
| 17 | HAYDEN Nicky | 69 | USA | Aspar MotoGP Team | Honda | 1'32.083 |
| 18 | HERNANDEZ Yonny | 68 | COL | Pramac Racing | Ducati | 1'32.142 |
| 19 | BAUTISTA Alvaro | 19 | SPA | Aprilia Racing Team Gresini | Aprilia | 1'32.282 |
| 20 | REDDING Scott | 45 | GBR | Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS | Honda | 1'32.448 |
| 21 | MILLER Jack | 43 | AUS | LCR Honda | Honda | 1'32.564 |
| 22 | DI MEGLIO Mike | 63 | FRA | Avintia Racing | Ducati | 1'32.716 |
| 23 | WEST Anthony | 13 | AUS | AB Motoracing | Honda | 1'33.049 |
| 24 | LAVERTY Eugene | 50 | IRE | Aspar MotoGP Team | Honda | 1'33.066 |
| 25 | ELIAS Toni | 24 | SPA | Athina Forward Racing | Forward Yamaha | 1'33.092 |
| 26 | PARKES Broc | 23 | AUS | E-Motion IodaRacing Team | ART | 1'33.577 |