Another record has fallen during the 2011 MotoGP season. Stoner set a new lap record at the Mugello circuit today, claiming the pole position with a 1’48.034 lap time.
Ben Spies was the only rider who challenged Stoner at the top, but still the young American finished nearly a half second behind the pole sitter. Spies may have been able to find a few more tenths on the Italian track, but rain slowed down the lap times during the second half of the qualifying session at Mugello.
Marco Simoncelli will join Stoner and Spies on the front row. Simoncelli finished just .006 seconds behind Spies’ pace.
Andrea Dovizioso will lead from row two. Jorge Lorenzo will start in the number five spot. Lorenzo set a lap record during the third free practice session at Mugello, but wasn’t able to match his pace during qualifying. Stoner beat Lorenzo’s lap record by .05 seconds, while Lorenzo finished qualifying more than a half second behind his quick practice time.
Colin Edwards will be the final rider on row 2.
Cal Crutchlow will lead the third row ahead of Dani Pedrosa and Nicky Hayden. Pedrosa, who is racing for the first time this weekend since his accident at Le Mans, finished more than a second off of Stoner’s pace.
MotoGP Grid
- Stoner - Spies - Simoncelli
- Dovizioso - Lorenzo - Edwards
- Crutchlow - Pedrosa - Hayden
