2011-07-16 09:53
Reigning World Champion Jorge Lorenzo fought hard today to secure himself third place in qualifying and a front row start for tomorrow?s Grand Prix of Germany. The Yamaha Factory Racing rider was the fastest man on track in the morning?s final free practice, setting an impressive 1?22.112 to top the time sheets. The afternoon qualifying heat saw him again quick onto the pace, again fastest man on track mid way through the session. Unfortunately he was not able to take any great advantage from the softer tyre compounds available and had dropped out of the top four until the last moments. As the final minutes ticked down he broke under the 1?22 mark to beat Marco Simoncelli for the final spot on the front row by just 0.010 seconds.
Ben Spies was on much better form than yesterday, a good night?s sleep had shaken off most of his head cold and the Texan was keen to attack the track. The crew made some major set up changes midway through both the morning practice and afternoon qualifying to help deliver an optimum bike package for the twisty Sachsenring circuit. Clear improvements were evident, Spies climbing from seventh in the morning with a 1?22.772 to fifth on the grid in qualifying with 1?22.056, just 0.375 from pole.
Jorge Lorenzo
Position : 3rd Time: 1’21.944 Laps: 33
?It?s been a strong weekend so far. I?ve never felt great on this track but this weekend I?m riding fast and feeling comfortable. It was a pity at the end of qualifying that the soft tyre didn?t improve anything so much. In the end I couldn?t make pole position but I think third position on the front row is a good place to start tomorrow for the race; I got it by just 0.010! Casey is very strong but I hope to be ready to fight for the victory with him. I think the fans will see a great race as there are a lot of riders who can fight for the win.?
Ben Spies
Position : 5th Time: 1’22.056 Laps: 31
?Today was definitely better. I?m still not 100% but I?m feeling a lot more clear headed on the bike. We were able to make the bike a bit better and I was able to ride better today to get into the top five. I made a mistake on my last lap, totally my fault, two corners to go I lost the rear, then saved it but then lost the front as well which cost me a tenth. It might have made us a little closer to the front but we?re still in the middle of the second row so we can put a good race together tomorrow.?
Wilco Zeelenberg
Team Manager
?We?re very happy with a front row position, that?s very important on this track, especially the first part which is very tight so we need a good start. The race pace is very good with the hard tyres, the soft one didn?t bring out so much so we don?t have to bother with that as I think we will all be using the same tyres tomorrow.?
Massimo Meregalli
Team Director
?It was a good qualifying session; the gap to the front is almost nothing. I think we solved most of the problems we had this afternoon with Ben, he is quite satisfied so I think tomorrow he can do a really good race. Jorge had a really good pace and I think tomorrow he can fight for the win.?
Qualifying Times
FRONT ROW
1. Casey Stoner (AUS) Repsol Honda Team 1’21.681
2. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team 1’21.933
3. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Yamaha Factory Racing 1’21.944
SECOND ROW
4. Marco Simoncelli (ITA) San Carlo Honda Gresini 1’21.954
5. Ben Spies (USA) Yamaha Factory Racing 1’22.056
6. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) Repsol Honda Team 1’22.157
THIRD ROW
7. Colin Edwards (USA) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1’22.368
8. Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati Team 1’22.388
9. Randy De Puniet (FRA) Pramac Racing Team 1’22.503
FOURTH ROW
10. Alvaro Bautista (SPA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1’22.604
11. Cal Crutchlow (GBR) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1’22.676
12. Hector Barbera (SPA) Aspar Team 1’22.676
FIFTH ROW
13. Karel Abraham (CZE) Cardion AB Motoracing 1’23.164
14. Toni Elias (SPA) LCR Honda MotoGP 1’23.201
15. Hiroshi Aoyama (JPN) Repsol Honda Team 1’23.248
SIXTH ROW
16. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Ducati Team 1’23.320
17. Sylvain Guintoli (Fra) Pramac Racing Team 1’24.707
Sachsenring Record Lap
D.Pedrosa (Honda) 2009, 1’22.126
Sachsenring Best Lap
C.Stoner (Ducati) 2008, 1’21.067
Source: Yamaha MotoGP
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