The qualifying round of the Italian Grand Prix kicked off with Valentino Rossi on the line. The reigning champion and hometown hero was injured during the practice session and is currently undergoing surgery.
The rest of the MotoGP riders took to the course and it was Spaniard Dani Pedrosa who claimed his second pole position of the season. Pedrosa was followed by season leader, and Rossi's Fiat Yamaha teammate, Jorge Lorenzo.
2009 Mugello winner Casey Stoner took 3rd, with Ducati Marlboro Teammate Nicky Hayden taking the top spot on the second row of the grid. Colin Edwards and Randy De Puniet will finish off the second row.
Andrea Dovizioso, who is now Lorenzo's closest competitor, after Rossi's inevitable no scores at Mugello, finished 8th for the day behind Ben Spies. Dovizioso is 28 points behind Lorenzo.
Lorenzo already has a 9 point lead on Rossi, but with Rossi missing prime point opportunities at Mugello, and with no return date marked, the 2010 MotoGP title looks like Lorenzo's to lose.
MotoGP - Mugello - Qualifying Results
1. ESP Repsol Honda Team 1m 48.819s
2. ESP Fiat Yamaha Team 1m 48.996s
3. AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 1m 49.432s
4. USA Ducati Marlboro Team 1m 49.546s
5. USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1m 49.683s
6. FRA LCR Honda 1m 49.737s
7. Ben Spies USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1m 49.861s
8. ITA Repsol Honda Team 1m 50.0650s
9. Aleix Espargaro ESP Pramac Racing 1m 50.168s
10. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN Interwetten Honda 1m 50.224s
11. Marco Simoncelli ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1m 50.434s
12. ITA Rizla Suzuki 1m 50.479s
13. Hector Barbera ESP Paginas Amarillas Aspar 1m 50.561s
14. ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1m 50.664s
15. FIN Pramac Racing 1m 50.970s
16. Alvaro Bautista ESP Rizla Suzuki 1m 53.243s
