Simón leads 125cc grid at Valencia

A seventh pole position of the year was secured by Julián Simón on Saturday afternoon, as the 125cc 2009 World Champion topped the qualifying practice timesheet.

Simón’s fastest lap of 1’41.472 placed him ahead of Simone Corsi (Fontana Racing), his Bancaja Aspar team-mate Bradley Smith and Red Bull KTM rider Marc Márquez on the front row of the grid.

The second row will comprise Joan Olivé (Derbi Racing Team), Nico Terol (Jack & Jones Team), Marcel Schrotter (Toni – Mang Team) and Pol Espargaró (Derbi Racing Team), with Schrotter managing to overcome an early run-off to continue his impressive weekend by qualifying in seventh.

Scott Redding also experienced a spill in the final minute of the session but managed to qualify in ninth place, with Sandro Cortese (Ajo Interwetten) completing the top ten.

Less fortunate was Sergio Gadea (Bancaja Aspar) who qualified down in 14th place after coming off his Aprilia, and Danny Webb (Degraaf Grand Prix) fractured a metatarsal in his right foot after a high-side crash. The British rider hopes to be fit for Sunday’s race, but Quentin Jacquet will not ride after it was confirmed he had broken a collarbone in the earlier practice session.