Spain’s Dani Pedrosa snatched a last minute pole Position at the Gran Premio d’Italia TIM, with a time of 1.47’157 to beat his compatriot Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo.
Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso took the final place on the front row.
Monster Yamaha rider Cal Crutchlow did well to get back from a crash to take fourth as LCR Honda’s Stefan Bradl manged to stay ahead of Repsol Honda rookie Marc Marquez, the Spaniard was lucky to escape a high speed crash on Friday afternoon with only a grazed chin and bruised shoulder and leg. Marquez was the fastest rider from Q1.
Italy’s home favourite Valentino Rossi had looked set to be on the front row but was unfortunately pushed back by other rider’s, he will start from seventh place. Ducati’s Nicky Hayden and GO&FUN Honda Gresini rider Alvaro Bautista claimed eighth and ninth respectively while Ducati Test rider Michele Pirro rounded out the top ten. Top CRT qualifier was Power Electronic Aspar’s Aleix Espargaro. By Laura Turner