Dovizioso powers to Japan MotoGP pole

Motegi: Honda rider Andrea Dovizioso on Saturday grabbed his first ever pole position in qualifying for the Japanese Moto Grand Prix at Motegi.

The Italian clocked a fastest lap of 1min 47.001sec at Motegi Twin Ring, edging his compatriot and reigning champion Valentino Rossi on a Yamaha by 0.054sec and Ducati rider Casey Stoner by 0.104sec. It came after Dovizioso marked the second fastest lap times during the practice sessions Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, trailing Rossi and championship leader Jorge Lorenzo in the respective sessions. Meanwhile point leader Lorenzo took fourth place ahead of fellow Yamaha rider Colin Edwards. “I am so happy and surprised about this practice,” Dovizioso said, referring the qualifying practice round in Saturday afternoon. “We started very well from yesterday. We have improved a lot. Normally, my style is not to go too fast in practice,” Dovizioso said. “We can make a good race” at the Grand Prix on Sunday, he said. Bureau Report