Pedrosa shows the grip with his first pole of the year
It is not uncommon to see Dani Pedrosa leading the grid of a World Championship race. The Spaniard added 36 pole positions in his career World Cup, including 18 in MotoGP, but Brno 2011 has a special flavor, because it comes after almost a year if you get: the latest was on 5 September 2010 in Misano. Since then, a string of physical problems, with fractures of both clavicles, and four visits to the surgery that forced him to drive for half the year injured. Now, now close to his best physical condition, demonstrates that Pedrosa would probably have been fighting for the title this season and is hungry for victory. “I’m happy to have achieved the pole, because a long time that did not, but more important is the race,” he said just get off the bike.
Dani had mastered with authority the first free practice on Friday, but the pole position on Saturday was much more fierce. The day dawned rainy Brno, Casey Stoner and, despite a fall in the early stages was the best in water with only five thousandths margin on Jorge Lorenzo. Valentino Rossi emerged wet to stand third, just ahead of Dani Pedrosa, who, avoiding risks, marked the fourth fastest three tenths of his teammate. The official, with dry asphalt, Rossi and Ducati disappeared from the top (although the Italian end in a remarkable sixth place), for the three strongest men of the category is now vying for pole position until the last moments.
Pedrosa soon stood in front of the timesheets, but first and then Stoner momentarily Lorenzo took pole position, with the records much tighter (and a bit slower due to morning rain left the track a bit slippery ) that on opening day Friday. However, the Repsol rider reimposed its best pace in the penultimate round, stopping the clock at 1’56 .660 one already awarded him the pole, but finished the job in his last start lowering the nine thousandth time.
Pedrosa has been the strongest in practice, and presents itself as the leading candidate to win this great prize, faced with a particular motivation, it has never won a MotoGP race in Brno.
Lorenzo and Stoner battle for the championship
Pedrosa’s plan will try to escape, is his favorite way to win, as did his idol Mick Doohan, but the drivers will be at your side in the first row of the grid are also compelling reasons to seek victory. Jorge Lorenzo, winner at Brno last year, needs to cut points to Stoner, who has 20 lead overall. The Spaniard, who was concerned Friday with the superiority of the Honda, the official shift ended more animated: “We made some changes and improved braking, so the bike now has been more stable.” “The times have improved and we have been very close to Dani and concluded in front of Casey,” praised the champion, who is with options including repeat the triumph of 2010. “The pace is good and tomorrow our goal is the podium, and if you can fight for victory.”
Elijah Improvement
The second row will be for Spies, Simoncelli and Rossi, who gave signs of recovery, and among others the best Spanish Toni Elias was this time, due out 12 th, his best finish of the season in an official training. “We made some changes to the bike, and although I am not comfortable going now I can brake late and start to fly my way,” said Manresa, he hopes to “find the way, but too late.”
Less fine walked Barbera, 13 °, and Alvaro Bautista, 14, but the most unfortunate of the day was the improvised fellow Baptist in the box Suzuki, John Hopkins, who can go out and race to break three fingers of right hand in the third free practice.