[kropotkin thinks...] - 2011 Mugello MotoGP FP3 Result: Lorenzo Smashes Pole Record

[Ninjette Newsbot]

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The sun is out in Tuscany and the threat of rain has disappeared, and now the MotoGP riders have set to work exploiting the grip of Mugello's new surface. It is fast: at the end of the session, Jorge Lorenzo had set a lap under the previous pole record set by Valentino Rossi in 2008, on the last of the super-soft qualifying tires. Lorenzo's lap sent a shockwave through the paddock; barely recovered from the previous fastest lap, a scorching lap by Marco Simoncelli already three tenths faster than Lorenzo's former fastest time, the Spaniard then obliterated Simoncelli's time by another third of a second. When the bikes roll out for qualifying practice this afternoon, times are likely to head into the mid 1'47s.

Casey Stoner was left holding the consolation prize in 3rd. The Australian had been close to Simoncelli and Lorenzo all session long, until the two Hondas put on the afterburners for the final couple of laps. Ben Spies' 4th fastest time might almost be described as disappointing, nearly a second off the pace of his Yamaha teammate, despite being nearly half a second under the race lap record. Much more impressive is Colin Edwards, the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha rider taking 5th spot just a few thousandths behind the factory bike of his former teammate Spies, and ahead of the second Repsol Honda of Andrea Dovizioso.

Race Details 2011


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