MotoGP: Pedrosa pole after dramatic session.

[Rory Phoulorie]

Saturday, 3rd November 2007

Dani Pedrosa has taken his fourth pole position in a row during qualifying for the 2007 MotoGP season finale at Valencia, in a session that saw Valentino Rossi hospitalised by a heavy fall.


Rossi fell from his Fiat Yamaha just nine-minutes into the hour when he lost control after running wide on the exit of turn one. The former five times MotoGP world champion was launched over the front of his bucking M1, which then destroyed itself in a series of somersaults, while the Italian was left to walk away holding his right hand and clearly in considerable pain.

The 28-year-old, who needs just one point to secure second in the world championship on Sunday, was later diagnosed with three fractures to his right hand, but plans to try and ride tomorrow. The five laps Rossi completed before his accident were enough to place him 17th on the grid.

In his absence, a hectic session ended with home hero Pedrosa pipping world champion Casey Stoner by just 0.086secs, while Stoner claimed a new sports car for winning the 2007 BMW Best Qualifier Award. The Ducati star began the final session of the year with a 0.497secs advantage over nearest rival Rossi.

Behind the top two, Pedrosa's Repsol Honda team-mate Nicky Hayden transformed his fortunes with third place on the super-soft qualifying tyres - but is far from happy with his race set-up, having been just 17th fastest midway through the session.

Randy de Puniet held provisional pole as the final minutes began, but will start his last grand prix for Kawasaki from a fighting fourth, just ahead of countryman Sylvain Guintoli. Guintoli was fastest of all in morning practice, helped by an unlimited supply of Dunlop tyres, but was also on top of the qualifying session with 15 minutes remaining.

Team-mate Makoto Tamada, riding in what looks like being his final MotoGP, will start alongside the 2008 d'Antin Ducati rider in a strong sixth, with John Hopkins the top Suzuki in a slightly subdued seventh.

An angry Loris Capirossi was eighth after being blocked by fellow veteran Alex Barros, who claimed 12th on the grid for his last MotoGP appearance, while Carlos Checa - also due to retire from grand prix competition on Sunday - was a commendable ninth, having missed morning practice due to illness. Honda Gresini's Marco Melandri completed a top ten covered by 0.850secs, with Chris Vermeulen eleventh on the second GSV-R.

A bad day for Fiat Yamaha was completed by Colin Edwards who, although able to keep his M1 on two wheels, was left just 15th fastest for his factory farewell.

Chaz Davies, injured on Friday morning, was back on track today but was forced to abort his qualifying session early after a fall.


Qualifying:

1. Pedrosa
2. Stoner
3. Hayden
4. de Puniet
5. Guintoli
6. Tamada
7. Hopkins
8. Capirossi
9. Checa
10. Melandri
11. Vermeulen
12. Barros
13. Nakano
14. Elias
15. Edwards
16. West
17. Rossi
18. Roberts
19. Davies



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