Rossi Steals the Pole in Misano
Cycle News Staff | September 5, 2009
Fiat Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi stole the pole position for the San Marino Grand Prix with his fastest lap of the weekend well after time had expired at his home track of Misano Adriatico not far from his residence in Tavullia, Italy.Rossi spent much of the session in the top spot before coming under fire late in the session. With 48 seconds to run, teammate Jorge Lorenzo took the top spot, but 38 seconds later Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa shot to the top.At the time a number of riders, including Rossi, were still on the track with the promise of a better time. The Italian would be quicker in every split and crossed the line with a lap of 1:34.338 mins., a time that was best by .222 secs. The pole was his sixth of the year.Rossi’s lap dropped Pedrosa to second, with Lorenzo third. Still, Lorenzo maintained an enviable record of being on the front row for every race this season.San Carlo Honda Gresini’s Toni Elias is at the head of row two in front of Americans Colin Edwards (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) and Nicky Hayden (Ducati Marlboro). Hayden was confirmed for another year with the Ducati factory team two days ago.Alex De Angelis, the only resident of San Marino in the field, was on pace for a faster lap when he ran off the track on the final lap. He finished seventh in front of Repsol Honda’s Andrea Dovizioso and LCR Honda’s Randy De Puniet.
Results:
1. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) 1:34.338
2. Dani Pedrosa (Honda) 1:34.560
3. Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) 1:34.808
4. Toni Elias (Honda) 1:34.907
5. Colin Edwards (Yamaha) 1:35.184
6. Nicky Hayden (Ducati) 1:35.223
7. Alex De Angelis (Honda) 1:35.343
8. Andrea Dovizioso (Honda) 1:35.492
9. Randy De Puniet (Honda) 1:35.554
10. Loris Capirossi (Suzuki) 1:35.561
