Pedrosa storms to pole in Malaysia
Spain’s Dani Pedrosa claimed only his second MotoGP pole position of the season in the gruelling heat of Malaysia as Honda dominated at the Sepang Circuit yesterday. The 26-year-old, who is lying fourth in the already-decided championship, whizzed his...
Spain’s Dani Pedrosa claimed only his second MotoGP pole position of the season in the gruelling heat of Malaysia as Honda dominated at the Sepang Circuit yesterday.
The 26-year-old, who is lying fourth in the already-decided championship, whizzed his way around the 5.5-km course in two minutes 1.462 seconds. Newly-crowned world champion Casey Stoner was second fastest.
Pedrosa missed the race last year at Sepang due to a collarbone injury sustained in a crash a week earlier at Motegi.
Honda riders swept the top three positions for today’s race, where deposed MotoGP world champion Yamaha’s Jorge Lo-renzo is missing with an injury to his left hand.
Pedrosa was 0.029 seconds ahead of team-mate Stoner, while Italy’s Andrea Dovizioso (2:01.666), also on a Honda, cruised to third position.
The 26-year-old Stoner, who claimed the championship last week on home soil in Australia, said the punishing heat made for trying conditions.
“It will be a very tough race,” he said, adding that “we are struggling to get stability for the bike”.
Colin Edwards, on a Yamaha, landed fourth as former world champion, Ducati’s Valentino Rossi, was down in ninth.