Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jorge Lorenzo left it until the last minute this afternoon to clinch a sensational pole position start for tomorrow’s Grand Prix of Japan at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit. The Championship leader was the first rider to break under the 1’47 second mark but was quickly followed by a number of rivals all pushing the lap times down. Provisional pole was repeatedly taken from one rider to another with Lorenzo waiting until the last moment with his last lap to deliver an unbeatable 1’44.969 to take pole position. The lap is a new pole record for the track and makes the 50th pole of his career.
Fellow Yamaha Factory rider Ben Spies was also on top form this afternoon, echoing his teammate’s pace to join the front three riders scrapping for pole position. Just after mid-way through the session the Texan was on provisional pole nearly half a second clear of the pack. As the final minutes passed a front row looked definite and a Factory one-two a real possibility until a small mistake dropped him to fourth on the grid, just 0.367 from pole.
Jorge Lorenzo
Position : 1st Time: 1’44.969 Laps: 26
“I’ve been really fast all weekend with a very good pace but in qualifying, ten minutes to the end I thought I was making a very good lap but I was in sixth position! I didn’t understand how the other riders were going so fast. I needed to push a bit more, in the second to last lap I made a mistake so in the last lap I had my last chance. I made it so I’m very happy but of course the important thing is the race tomorrow.”
Ben Spies
Position : 4th Time: 1’45.336 Laps: 24
“It was a good session for us, we made a small mistake at the end but the pace of the bike is good. By the time we got to the third rear tyre the front was a little bit past the limit but we were still pushing because I thought we could get on the front row. On the second tyre I made a small mistake on the hot lap which is a shame because I think that lap could have been close to pole, definitely the front row anyway and maybe a Factory Yamaha one-two. Fourth is good though as we now have a starting position so I’ll give it my best for a good start and get on the back of the guys and see what we can do.”
Wilco Zeelenberg – Team Manager
“A great qualifying, pole is very important. It was a very intense session. There were a lot of pole position changes at the end and we dropped a few places. For Jorge to come back and do that lap in the last minute was very exciting. The team has worked really hard this weekend to deliver a really competitive bike from the start.”
Massimo Meregalli – Team Director
“There’s no better way to start the race than from pole, especially at a Honda circuit. Jorge made an impressive lap, he had a good rhythm then the last lap was amazing. Unfortunately Ben fell during what was possibly his best lap. Anyway he has a good feeling and is satisfied with the bike set up and tyres so I think it’s going to be a really interesting race.”
MotoGP Motegi Qualifying Times
- FRONT ROW
- 1. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Yamaha Factory Racing 1’44.969
- 2. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team 1’45.215
- 3. Cal Crutchlow (GBR) Yamaha Tech3 1’45.257
- SECOND ROW
- 4. Ben Spies (USA) Yamaha Factory Racing 1’45.336
- 5. Alvaro Bautista (SPA) Honda Gresini 1’45.481
- 6. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) Yamaha Tech3 1’45.612
- THIRD ROW
- 7. Casey Stoner (AUS) Repsol Honda Team 1’45.745
- 8. Stefan Bradl (GER) LCR Honda 1’45.848
- 9. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Ducati Team 1’45.976
- FOURTH ROW
- 10. Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati Team 1’46.461
- 11. Katsuyuki Nakasuga (JPN) Yamaha YSP Racing Team 1’46.780
- 12. Hector Barbera (SPA) Pramac Racing Team 1’46.881
- FIFTH ROW
- 13. Aleix Espargaro (SPA) Power Electronics Aspar 1’47.383
- 14. Randy De Puniet (FRA) Power Electronics Aspar 1’47.581
- 15. Karel Abraham (CZE) Cardion AB Motoracing 1’47.791
- SIXTH ROW
- 16. Colin Edwards (USA) NGM Mobile Forward Racing 1’48.125
- 17. Yonny Hernandez (COL) Avintia Racing 1’48.513
- 18. Michele Pirro (ITA) San Carlo Honda Gresini 1’48.653
- SEVENTH ROW
- 19. Danilo Petrucci (ITA) Came Iodaracing Project 1’48.831
- 20. James Ellison (UK) Paul Bird Motorsport 1’49.023
- 21. Roberto Rolfo (ITA) Speed Master 1’49.183
- EIGHTH ROW
- 22. Ivan Silva (SPA) Avintia Racing 1’49.831