MotoGP news

Rossi seals San Marino pole

Yamaha's Valentino Rossi made the most of a home advantage on Saturday by continuing to dominate the weekend and take pole position for the San Marino Grand Prix. Dani Pedrosa was able to slip ahead of the second Yamaha for second place as Toni Elías endured three Spaniards made the top four places.

Italian legend Rossi has been the fastest rider in every session so far this weekend and his last-gasp 1:34.338 lap put him in pole position for the sixth time this season in the Rimini sunshine.

As the session drew to a close it looked as though Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa had snatched pole from Rossi with a decent 1:34.560 effort, but the Fiat Yamaha rider found another level in the closing seconds to deny the Spaniard.

Completing the front row, Rossi's team-mate Jorge Lorenzo also marked his best time at the end of the QP, but he finally fell half a second short of his title rival. Lorenzo will need to be at his very best if he is to improve on his second place result in last year's Misano contest.

The second row of the grid is headed by San Carlo Honda Gresini rider Toni Elías who lapped with a similar pace to Lorenzo and will be desperate for a good performance on Sunday as he fights for his future in the premier class.

Behind Elías on the grid sits the experienced Colin Edwards and the Texan's compatriot Nicky Hayden, who is enjoying plenty of support from the Ducatisti this weekend.

The top ten also features home rider Alex de Angelis, Andrea Dovizioso, Randy de Puniet and Loris Capirossi - the veteran Italian surviving an off track excursion unscathed during the session.

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