Written by:
SPEED Staff
SPEEDtv.com
Fiat Yamaha Team's Jorge Lorenzo (Photo: Brian J Nelson)
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Jorge Lorenzo secured his fourth pole position of the season at Laguna Seca today for tomorrow’s US Grand Prix despite crashing twice during the qualifying session, the second accident leaving him with an Acromial Clavicular Separation to the right side and a contusion to the right foot. He is hopeful for tomorrow but will be reassessed in the morning before taking a final decision on whether or not to race.
His Fiat Yamaha teammate Valentino Rossi secured second after a last-minute improvement which edged Casey Stoner, who also crashed in the final minutes, into third.
This morning was much cooler than yesterday but Lorenzo continued strongly and topped the time sheets for the second free practice session. Rossi meanwhile struggled a little on the colder track and could only manage third. The sun finally came out at lunchtime and qualifying was run in temperatures more similar to yesterday, Lorenzo quickly claiming the top spot and remaining there for the majority of the session. With twenty minutes to go the Spaniard lost the front at turn ten and slid out for the first time but he was unhurt and raced back to the pits to change bikes. Whilst he was off track Stoner moved into provisional pole but Lorenzo showed there were no ill effects of the crash just ten minutes later by re-taking the top spot. However with just three minutes to go the 22-year-old crashed again in the same section of the track and was less lucky this time, being taken immediately to the circuit clinic for examination. The damage to his right shoulder area, although painful, is not dangerous and he is hoping to ride tomorrow but will wait until the morning before making a decision.
Rossi found the going today somewhat harder than yesterday and was unable to find the perfect setting for his M1, losing time particularly in the final sector of the 3.6km track. In the last ten minutes the World Champion was constantly improving his time but not enough to move from third position, where he sat behind Stoner and Lorenzo. His last flying lap, although not enough for pole, was an improvement however and he moved into second, 0.167 seconds off his teammate.
Jorge Lorenzo Position: 1st Time: 1'21.678 Laps: 27
“I was trying to push but first I had some traffic and then the tires were cold, and I wasn’t in the right shape to try to improve my time. I’m disappointed for these two crashes but I am okay and I am optimistic that I will be able to ride tomorrow. Now the American doctors and the Clinica Mobile are working together to try to help me as best they can and make me more comfortable. Thanks to all the American people here for their support!”
