Stoner leads again in Jerez warm up

Casey Stoner (Repsol Honda) who start’s from his first ever pole position at the Jerez circuit for the Gran Premio bwin de España set the fastest lap time of 1’50:297 on a greasy track, which was around 12 seconds off his pole time. Valentino Rossi (Ducati Team) was second quickest in warm up and starts from 12th position today, which is his lowest grid position since he was 12th for the Australian Grand Prix in 2008, in which he went on to finish second in the race.

The second Repsol Honda was that of Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda) who recorded the third fastest time. The Italian’s sixth place on the grid was his best qualifying result since he was third fastest at Sepang last year. Nicky Hayden (Ducati Team) was two places behind his team mate after the warm up in fourth place and will start the MotoGP race from the fourth row in 11th.

The 2010 Jerez GP winner, Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha Factory Racing) was fifth fastest and starts from the front row of the grid behind the Repsol Honda’s. Marco Simoncelli (San Carlo Honda Gresini Team) who has twice won at Jerez in his time competing in the 125cc class, was sixth quickest ahead of his fellow Honda rider, Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) in seventh.

Britain’s Cal Crutchlow (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) known for his good form in mixed conditions was eighth, ahead of Randy de Puniet (Pramac Racing) who will start from ninth as the quickest Ducati rider in qualifying and Crutchlow’s Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team mate, Colin Edwards. Ben Spies (Yamaha Factory Racing) was 14th fastest in the warm up, but will head the second row of the grid for the MotoGP race.