Moto2: Simoncelli gets Motegi 250 pole
Marco Simoncelli will commence his 250cc title defence from pole position in the Japanese Grand Prix after rain forced qualifying to be abandoned
The reigning champion had missed the Qatar season opener due to injuries sustained in a motocross accident, and had initially been uncertain if he would be fit to race at Motegi.
But he was quickest in practice yesterday, and that session ultimately set the grid when qualifying had to be called off.
Local favourite Hiroshi Aoyama will line up second to Simoncelli, ahead of Alvaro Bautista and Mattia Pasini.
Qatar winner Hector Barbera, whose 2008 season was ended by a massive practice crash at Motegi, will start fifth.
Pos Rider Bike Time Gap 1. Marco Simoncelli Gilera 1m53.093s 2. Hiroshi Aoyama Honda 1m53.695s + 0.602s 3. Alvaro Bautista Aprilia 1m53.836s + 0.743s 4. Mattia Pasini Aprilia 1m53.940s + 0.847s 5. Hector Barbera Aprilia 1m54.497s + 1.404s 6. Raffaele De Rosa Honda 1m54.584s + 1.491s 7. Gabor Talmacsi Aprilia 1m54.594s + 1.501s 8. Mike Di Meglio Aprilia 1m54.595s + 1.502s 9. Roberto Locatelli Gilera 1m54.757s + 1.664s 10. Alex Debon Aprilia 1m55.103s + 2.010s 11. Lukas Pesek Aprilia 1m55.158s + 2.065s 12. R.Wilairot Honda 1m55.208s + 2.115s 13. Thomas Luthi Aprilia 1m55.453s + 2.360s 14. Jules Cluzel Aprilia 1m55.538s + 2.445s 15. Hector Faubel Honda 1m55.588s + 2.495s 16. Karel Abraham Aprilia 1m55.724s + 2.631s 17. Shuhei Aoyama Honda 1m55.929s + 2.836s 18. Alex Baldolini Aprilia 1m56.017s + 2.924s 19. Kazuki Watanabe Yamaha 1m57.274s + 4.181s 20. Imre Toth Aprilia 1m58.727s + 5.634s 21. Axel Pons Aprilia 2m01.044s + 7.951s 22. Vladimir Leonov Aprilia 2m01.447s + 8.354s 23. Bastien Chesaux Honda 2m01.953s + 8.860s 24. Aitor Rodriguez Aprilia 2m03.437s + 10.344s 25. Shoya Tomizawa Honda 2m03.878s + 10.785s
Be part of the Autosport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
Hamilton accepts blame for incident with Albon in F1 Brazilian GP
Ferrari drivers called to F1 stewards over Brazilian GP collision
Will Alonso's Indy failure end the age of versatility?
Aragon Moto2: Simone Corsi takes first pole of 2012
Marc Marquez takes last-gasp Moto2 Indianapolis GP pole from Simone Corsi
Moto2: Simon on pole for Sepang Moto2
How real-time scrutineering ensures fair and consistent competition in motorsport
How MotoGP brakes work: Secrets of stopping a 220mph bike
Hyundai enacts contingency plan after WRC Kenya fuel issue
Vanwall working on 2025 WEC comeback with heavily-revised Hypercar
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments