Donington: Italy’s Valentino Rossi claimed pole position for the British Moto Grand Prix here on Saturday.
The Yamaha rider finished just ahead of Spaniards Dani Pedrosa (Honda) and Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) with only one second covering the first seven on the grid.
Rossi ensured pole for Sunday’s race with a best qualifying time of 1min 28.116sec for the eight-time world champion’s fourth pole of the season.
Pedrosa was fastest in practice in the rain on Friday and again in Saturday’s early session only for Rossi to turn on the power when it mattered most to edge out the Spaniard by .95sec.
“I’m surprised,” was Rossi’s initial reaction after bagging his 55th career pole.
The flamboyant Italian is targeting his 102 grand prix win at Donington.
Former world champion Casey Stoner, Andrea Dovizioso and Colin Edwards will start on the second row.
Bureau Report
First Published: Saturday, July 25, 2009, 23:41