MotoGP
7 November 2009

MotoGP news

Lorenzo crashes heavily after taking pole at Laguna Seca

Lorenzo crashes heavily after taking pole at Laguna Seca

04 July 2009

Jorge Lorenzo crashed twice in qualifying at the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix but still ended the session in pole position. Valentino Rossi finished in second place, while Casey Stoner also had a big crash, but still ended up in third.

Medical checks will be required for poleman Jorge Lorenzo and his World Championship rival Casey Stoner after a dramatic qualifying session at Laguna Seca, which ended with the Spaniard being stretchered away having set the pole position time - a 1'21.678 hot lap.

Fiat Yamaha's former 250cc World Champion Lorenzo was unaffected by a lowside crash on the fourth corner with 20 minutes to go, jumping on his second M1 to grab pole for Sunday's race, before a massive highside crash saw him taken away from trackside and straight to the Laguna medical centre for checks on an apparently injured right leg.

Second fastest qualifier Valentino Rossi stood alone in parc fermé, having lapped 0.167s behind Lorenzo, with third fastest rider Casey Stoner also crashing heavily on turn three in the final minutes. Stoner appeared to be walking unaided, albeit unsteadily, after the session.

The second row for Sunday's eighth MotoGP contest of 2009 will be an all Honda affair, with factory pair Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso qualifying fourth and fifth respectively, in front of San Carlo Honda Gresini's Toni Elías - all three less than half a second down on Lorenzo.

MotoGP's American representatives Colin Edwards (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) and Nicky Hayden (Ducati) will be joined on row three by Chris Vermeulen (Rizla Suzuki), who like Hayden has a good record at Laguna.

The top ten qualifiers list was completed by Vermeulen's veteran teammate Loris Capirossi.


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