Bautista takes Silverstone pole
2012-06-17 09:50
CAL CRUTCHLOW: Great hopes for the Brit on his home circuit but will he start the 2012 British MotoGP?
SILVERSTONE, England - Honda's Spanish rider Alvaro Bautista will start from pole in Sunday's 2012 British MotoGP after posting the fastest time in qualifying here Saturday.
Bautista earned his first MotoGP pole position by edging out American Ben Spies (Yamaha) by 0.106sec with Australian World champion Casey Stoner third at +0.120sec.
ROSSI ONLY 10th
The 2006 125cc World champion posted a time 0.2sec outside the track record set by former MotoGP World champion Jorge Lorenzo in 2010. Lorenzo was fourth-fastest in qualifying, less than half a second behind his compatriot.
Former multiple champion Valentino Rossi could manage only 10th in the dry conditions.
"I'm so excited. I never thought that I could get pole so early (in my career)," Bautista told the BBC. "I felt good on my bike all weekend, both in wet and dry conditions. Morning practice was difficult because rain fell sometimes and then it came again at the end of the qualifying session.
"I'm so happy because my team did a great job. I'm looking forward to Sunday’s race."
CRUTCHLOW INJURED
British rider Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha) is in danger of missing his home race for a second year after a heavy crash in final practice. He lost control of his bike at Chapel corner and after landing awkwardly was initially diagnosed with a left-ankle sprain.
He was taken to hospital after the ankle swelled to undergo further tests. Although he missed qualifying, there is still a chance he could start the race from the back of the grid.
Crutchlow was unable to take part in the 2011 race after crashing in qualifying.
Results of qualifying for Sunday's 2012 British MotoGP
1 Alvaro Bautista (ESP/Honda) 2min03.303
2 Ben Spies (USA/Yamaha) +0.106
3 Casey Stoner (AUS/Honda) +0.120
4 Jorge Lorenzo (ESP/Yamaha) +0.460
5 Dani Pedrosa (Honda) +0.532
6 Hector Barbera (ESP/Ducati) +0.573
7 Nicky Hayden (USA/Ducati) +0.859
8 Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Yamaha) +1.001
9 Stefan Bradl (GER/Honda) +1.732
10 Valentino Rossi (ITA/Ducati) +2.113
11 Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Aprilia) +2.980
