MotoGP news

Rossi surprised with pole position record

Valentino Rossi smashed the pole record at Sepang this afternoon to take his sixth pole position of the season ahead of tomorrow's Malaysian Grand Prix, the Italian's first championship 'match point.' Jorge Lorenzo recovered from a difficult session to put in some good laps at the end and qualify second, making it the 12th time this year that the Fiat Yamaha Pair have shared the front row.

Rossi commented on his qualifying record: "I am so happy about that final lap! I couldn't believe it when I saw it on my dashboard, I thought it was possible to go faster but not by that much! My team and I have worked very well here and we've had a good strategy with Bridgestone, which left us with plenty of time at the end to try for the pole. It's very important to be on the front row here so we have done our job well, plus I am confident about our setting and our race pace.

"We're in good shape. It's incredibly hot and tomorrow will be hard for everyone, as it always is here, but we have a good advantage and I am really looking forward to the battle. Let's see where we are at this time tomorrow!"

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