Crutchlow Qualifies Top @ Brno

Moto GP 2013

maddix park mx

www.motorcycle-usa.com By Brian Wilson

Monster Yamaha Tech 3’s Cal Crutchlow took his second pole position of the season at Brno, posting the fastest pole lap ever at the circuit near the end of the second qualifying session. The British rider is joined by a second satellite rider on the front row, Go & Fun Honda Gresini’s Alvaro Bautista, who ended Q2 two-tenths off the top time. Current championship points leader, Marc Marquez of Repsol Honda, rounds out the top-three.

Crutchlow came out swinging earlier in the day, posting the fastest time in the third free practice. He bested that effort early in Q2 as he, Marquez, Bautista and Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jorge Lorenzo swapped position out front. After the initial minutes Lorenzo slipped down the ranks as Marquez, then Bautista took over the lead. Bautista clung to Marquez’s rear tire during the first flying laps and the two came across the line separated by just a few feet, with Bautista benefitting from the tow with a tenth-of-a-second advantage over the rookie.

“I'm not entirely happy because I had the confidence and determination to fight for pole,” said Marquez. “I could not take advantage of the second tire because there was a lot of traffic and some riders were waiting for a tow. But it is what it is –one day I will look to follow them, another day it will be the opposite."

Bautista’s top-time stood until Crutchlow’s last run. The Honda rider attempted to hitch a ride from Crutchlow during his fast lap but the Yamaha ace proved too quick to follow.

“I felt really good on that lap and to set the circuit best lap is a great achievement for the whole team to be proud of,” said Crutchlow. “I just pushed as hard as I could and it is nice to take another pole position because I feel this is more of a true pole after Assen. Jorge wasn’t in Assen but this time it feels great to be fastest with everybody on track.”

Marquez’s teammate, Dani Pedrosa, heads the second row, falling short of the top-three by a miniscule 0.005 seconds. Lorenzo ended the day in fifth. Crutchlow’s teammate, Bradley Smith, will start Sunday’s race from sixth while Lorenzo’s teammate, Valentino Rossi, will look for a good start from the top of the third row. LCR Honda’s Stefan Bradl and Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso join Rossi on Row 3, qualifying in eighth and ninth, respectively. Dovi’s teammate, Nicky Hayden, is 10th followed by the two riders that moved up from Q1, Energy T.I. Pramac Racing’s Andrea Iannone and the sole CRT rider among the Q2 ranks, Colin Edwards of NGM Mobile Forward Racing.

MotoGP Brno Qualifying Results 2013: 
1. Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha) 1’55.527 
2. Alvaro Bautista (Honda) 1’55.754 
3. Marc Marquez (Honda) 1’55.863 
4. Dani Pedrosa (Honda) 1’55.868 
5. Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) 1’55.949 
6. Bradley Smith (Yamaha) 1’56.014 
7. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) 1’56.186 
8. Stefan Bradl (Honda) 1’56.477 
9. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) 1’56.825 
10. Nicky Hayden (Ducati) 1’56.979 
11. Andrea Iannone (Ducati) 1’57.455 
12. Colin Edwards (FTR-Kawasaki) 1’58.392 
13. Aleix Espargaro (ART) 1’58.378 
14. Michele Pirro (Ducati) 1’58.812 
15. Randy de Puniet (ART) 1’58.953 
16. Yonny Hernandez (ART) 1’58.983 
17. Danilo Petrucci (Ioda-Suter) 1’59.057 
18. Claudio Corti (FTR-Kawasaki) 1’59.062 
19. Hector Barbera (FTR) 1’59.128 
20. Lukas Pesek (Ioda-Suter) 2’00.522 
21. Michael Laverty (PBM) 2’00.584 
22. Hiroshi Aoyama (FTR) 2’00.653 
23. Karel Abraham (ART) 2’00.792 
24. Bryan Staring (FTR-Honda) 2’00.827 
 
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