Rossi Steals the Pole in Misano

Qualifying at the Gran Premio Cinzano di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini went down to the wire, but Valentino Rossi ultimately emerged on top.

Best images of MotoGP QP in Misano

Having crashed out at Indianapolis last Sunday Valentino Rossi is fighting back in style at his home event this weekend and he took pole at the end of an intriguing qualifying practice at Misano on Saturday afternoon.

The Italian legend has been the fastest rider in every session so far this weekend and his last gasp 1’34.338 lap put him in pole position for the sixth time this season in the Rimini sunshine.

As the session drew to a close it looked as though Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa had snatched pole from Rossi with a decent 1’34.560 effort, but the Fiat Yamaha rider found another level in the closing seconds to deny the Spaniard.

Completing the front row, Rossi’s team-mate Jorge Lorenzo also marked his best time at the end of the QP, but he finally fell half a second short of his title rival. Lorenzo will need to be at his very best if he is to improve on his second place result in last year’s Misano contest.

The second row of the grid is headed by San Carlo Honda Gresini rider Toni Elías who lapped with a similar pace to Lorenzo and will be desperate for a good performance on Sunday as he fights for his future in the premier class.

Behind Elías on the grid sits the experienced Colin Edwards (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) and the Texan’s compatriot Nicky Hayden (Ducati Marlboro), who is enjoying plenty of support from the Ducatisti this weekend.

The top ten also features home rider Alex de Angelis (San Carlo Honda Gresini), Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda), Randy de Puniet (LCR Honda) and Loris Capirossi (Rizla Suzuki) – the veteran Italian surviving an off track excursion unscathed during the session.

Qualifying Results

Pos Rider Time Nat Bike Team
1 Valentino Rossi 1m 34.338 ITA YAMAHA Fiat Yamaha Team
2 Dani Pedrosa 1m 34.560 SPA HONDA Repsol Honda Team
3 Jorge Lorenzo 1m 34.808 SPA YAMAHA Fiat Yamaha Team
4 Toni Elias 1m 34.907 SPA HONDA San Carlo Honda Gresini
5 Colin Edwards 1m 35.184 USA YAMAHA Tech 3 Yamaha
6 Nicky Hayden 1m 35.223 USA DUCATI Ducati Marlboro Team
7 Alex De Angelis 1m 35.343 SMR HONDA San Carlo Honda Gresini
8 Andrea Dovizioso 1m 35.492 ITA HONDA Repsol Honda Team
9 Randy De Puniet 1m 35.554 FRA HONDA LCR Honda MotoGP
10 Loris Capirossi 1m 35.561 ITA SUZUKI Rizla Suzuki MotoGP
11 Mika Kallio 1m 35.601 FIN DUCATI Pramac Racing
12 Marco Melandri 1m 35.785 ITA KAWASAKI Hayate Racing Team
13 Chris Vermeulen 1m 35.790 AUS SUZUKI Rizla Suzuki MotoGP
14 James Toseland 1m 36.070 GBR YAMAHA Tech 3 Yamaha
15 Aleix Espargaro 1m 36.228 SPA DUCATI Pramac Racing
16 Niccolo Canepa 1m 36.264 ITA DUCATI Pramac Racing
17 Gabor Talmacsi 1m 37.091 HUN HONDA Scot Racing Team MotoGP

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