Stoner takes German MotoGP pole
2012-07-07 17:08
CASEY STONER: Pole at the 2012 Sachsenring MotoGP for Honda.
SACHSENRING, Germany - Honda's MotoGP World champion Casey Stoner left it late to take pole position for the German GP in a frenetic final few minutes on a drying Sachsenring track on Saturday.
The Australian clocked a best time of 1min31.796 to edge out Yamaha's American rider Ben Spies into second place.
CRUTCHLOW FOURTH
Stoner's Spanish team mate Dani Pedrosa completed the front row of the grid.
Britain's Cal Crutchlow took the fourth slot on a non-factory Tech3 Yamaha with championship leader Jorge Lorenzo lining up in fifth on the works bike.
Lorenzo and Stoner are level on 140 points in the championship with the Spaniard leading on race wins.
2012 German MotoGP qualification times on Saturday
1 Casey Stoner (Australia) Honda 1min31.796
2 Ben Spies (US) Yamaha 1min31.989
3 Dani Pedrosa (Spain) Honda 1min32.081
4 Cal Crutchlow (Britain) Yamaha 1min32.288
5 Jorge Lorenzo (Spain) Yamaha 1min32.381
6 Stefan Bradl (Germany) Honda 1min32.510
7 Nicky Hayden (US) Ducati 1min32.795
8 Andrea Dovizioso (Italy) Yamaha 1min33.205
9 Valentino Rossi (Italy) Ducati 1min33.217
10 Aleix Espargaro (Spain) Aprilia 1min33.900
