Moto2: Lorenzo dominant in first qualifying
Reigning 250cc world champion Jorge Lorenzo took a dominant provisional pole position in first qualifying for the 250cc class at Phillip Island today
Lorenzo, who could clinch this year's title with a good finish in Sunday's race, dominated the session, with a succession of times that no-one could match.
After setting a time of 1:35.823 to top the times after five minutes, he lowered it by nearly a second on his next lap to set a time only two other riders would beat by session's end.
But Lorenzo still had more speed in him, slicing another three-quarters of a second away with a 1:34.178 with 10 minutes remaining, a time that would have taken provisional pole.
However, Lorenzo was not yet done, twice more lowering the pole mark with his final effort of 1:33.641 securing the top spot by nearly eight-tenths of a second.
The margin looked like being almost 1.2 seconds, but with a minute remaining Hector Barbera popped up with a 1:34.358 to be the only rider close to Lorenzo's stunning pace.
Next were Lorenzo's two championship rivals, Alex de Angelis and Andrea Dovizioso, both over a second behind Lorenzo, with Marco Simoncelli just behind them in fifth position on the provisional grid.
Hiroshi Aoyama looked set for a better result than where he finished in seventh, twice setting the second fastest time in the first 30 minutes of the session, only able to make a small improvement at the end of the session.
Pos Rider Make Time
1. Jorge Lorenzo Aprilia 1:33.641
2. Hector Barbera Aprilia 1:34.358 + 0.717
3. Alex de Angelis Aprilia 1:34.820 + 1.179
4. Andrea Dovizioso Honda 1:34.999 + 1.358
5. Marco Simoncelli Gilera 1:35.013 + 1.372
6. Alvaro Bautista Aprilia 1:35.158 + 1.517
7. Hiroshi Aoyama KTM 1:35.311 + 1.670
8. Julian Simon Honda 1:35.333 + 1.692
9. Shuhei Aoyama Honda 1:35.674 + 2.033
10. Mika Kallio KTM 1:35.809 + 2.168
11. Thomas Luthi Aprilia 1:35.879 + 2.238
12. R. Locatelli Gilera 1:36.412 + 2.771
13. Yuki Takahashi Honda 1:37.115 + 3.474
14. Dirk Heidolf Aprilia 1:37.179 + 3.538
15. Jules Cluzel Aprilia 1:37.334 + 3.693
16. Imre Toth Aprilia 1:37.454 + 3.813
17. Aleix Espargaro Aprilia 1:37.819 + 4.178
18. Karel Abraham Aprilia 1:38.011 + 4.370
19. Fabrizio Lai Aprilia 1:38.075 + 4.434
20. R. Wilairot Honda 1:38.241 + 4.600
21. Alex Baldolini Aprilia 1:38.278 + 4.637
22. Efren Vazquez Aprilia 1:39.073 + 5.432
23. Taro Sekiguchi Aprilia 1:39.240 + 5.599
24. Federico Sandi Aprilia 1:39.976 + 6.335
Not qualified (Outside 107%): 1:40.195
Rider Make Time
Ho Wan Chow Aprilia 1:43.075 + 9.434
Eugene Laverty Honda 2:01.777 +28.136
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