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ASSEN, Netherlands - Honda's Marco Simoncelli will start on pole for Saturday's Dutch MotoGP after the Italian rider topped qualifying here on Friday.
Simoncelli, seeking his first MotoGP win, will be on the front row with Yamaha's Ben Spies and Honda’s Casey Stoner.
Simoncelli gained his second pole of the season – the other was at Catalunya - with a time of 1min34.718; Spies was 0.009sec slower.
SECOND-ROW ROOKIE
He said: "It's great to be on the front row at this special event (Yamaha's 50th anniversary). I'm a little disappointed - I had a shot at pole but front row is fine.”
Spain's World champion Jorge Lorenzo (second to Stoner in 2011’s championship), Andrea Dovizioso and British rookie Cal Crutchlow (Lorenzo's team mate) will start on the second row.
Stoner won here three years ago. He’ll go into Saturday's race aiming to follow his success at Silverstone in England on June 12 to cement his place at the head of the Riders' standings.
Lorenzo is 18 points behind the Australian after crashing from the British GP.
Valentino Rossi took 11th on his Ducati, his Italian compatriot Loris Capirossi may miss the race because of a crash on his Pramac.
In Moto2, championship leader Stean Bradl of Germany set himself up for his fifth win of the season with the fastest time. Spain's Maverick Vinales has pole in the 125cc race.
Grid for Saturday's Dutch motorcycling Motorcycle GP after qualifying on Friday
1 Marco Simoncelli (ITA/Honda) 1:34.718
2 Ben Spies (USA/Yamaha) +0.009
3 Casey Stoner (AUS/Honda) +0.290
4 Jorge Lorenzo (ESP/Yamaha) +0.425
5 Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Honda) +0.526
6 Cal Crutchlow (GBR/Yamaha) +0.611
7 Karel Abraham (CZE/Ducati) +1.024
8 Colin Edwards (USA/Yamaha) +1.100
9 Nicky Hayden (USA/Ducati) +1.148
10 Randy de Puniet (FRA/Ducati) +1.717
11 Valentino Rossi (ITA/Ducati) +1.846
12 Hiroshi Aoyama (JPN/Honda) +1.862
13 Hector Barbera (ESP/Ducati) +1.872
14 Alvaro Bautista (ESP/Suzuki) +2.102
15 Loris Capirossi (ITA/Ducati) +2.412
16 Toni Elias (ESP/Honda) +2.933
17 Kousuke Akiyoshi (JPN/Honda) +4.288
Simoncelli, seeking his first MotoGP win, will be on the front row with Yamaha's Ben Spies and Honda’s Casey Stoner.
Simoncelli gained his second pole of the season – the other was at Catalunya - with a time of 1min34.718; Spies was 0.009sec slower.
SECOND-ROW ROOKIE
He said: "It's great to be on the front row at this special event (Yamaha's 50th anniversary). I'm a little disappointed - I had a shot at pole but front row is fine.”
Spain's World champion Jorge Lorenzo (second to Stoner in 2011’s championship), Andrea Dovizioso and British rookie Cal Crutchlow (Lorenzo's team mate) will start on the second row.
Stoner won here three years ago. He’ll go into Saturday's race aiming to follow his success at Silverstone in England on June 12 to cement his place at the head of the Riders' standings.
Lorenzo is 18 points behind the Australian after crashing from the British GP.
Valentino Rossi took 11th on his Ducati, his Italian compatriot Loris Capirossi may miss the race because of a crash on his Pramac.
In Moto2, championship leader Stean Bradl of Germany set himself up for his fifth win of the season with the fastest time. Spain's Maverick Vinales has pole in the 125cc race.
Grid for Saturday's Dutch motorcycling Motorcycle GP after qualifying on Friday
1 Marco Simoncelli (ITA/Honda) 1:34.718
2 Ben Spies (USA/Yamaha) +0.009
3 Casey Stoner (AUS/Honda) +0.290
4 Jorge Lorenzo (ESP/Yamaha) +0.425
5 Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Honda) +0.526
6 Cal Crutchlow (GBR/Yamaha) +0.611
7 Karel Abraham (CZE/Ducati) +1.024
8 Colin Edwards (USA/Yamaha) +1.100
9 Nicky Hayden (USA/Ducati) +1.148
10 Randy de Puniet (FRA/Ducati) +1.717
11 Valentino Rossi (ITA/Ducati) +1.846
12 Hiroshi Aoyama (JPN/Honda) +1.862
13 Hector Barbera (ESP/Ducati) +1.872
14 Alvaro Bautista (ESP/Suzuki) +2.102
15 Loris Capirossi (ITA/Ducati) +2.412
16 Toni Elias (ESP/Honda) +2.933
17 Kousuke Akiyoshi (JPN/Honda) +4.288
