Jorge Lorenzo claims fourth pole position in Japan

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Spain's Jorge Lorenzo. Photo: EFE

Spain's Jorge Lorenzo upstaged his Yamaha team mate and world championship leader Valentino Rossi by qualifying fastest for the Japanese MotoGP on Saturday.

Lorenzo claimed his fourth pole position of the season with a blistering time of one minute, 45.54 seconds, 0.29 quicker than Australian Casey Stoner, the defending world champion.

American Nicky Hayden was third fastest with Italian Rossi, who can clinch the world title with a podium finish in Sunday's race, in fourth place. Spain's Dani Pedrosa, still in with a chance of denying Rossi the title, was fifth quickest ahead of Italian Loris Capirossi who has won the Japanese MotoGP for the past three years. Italian Marco Simoncelli was fastest in qualifying for the 250cc race and Mike Di Meglio of France took pole in the 125cc category.

Results from Saturday's qualifying sessions ahead of Sunday's Grand Prix of Japan at the at the 4.8-kilomter (2.98 mile) Twin Ring Motegi course:

MotoGP

1. Jorge Lorenzo, Spain, Yamaha, 1 Minute, 45.543 seconds.
2. Casey Stoner, Australia, Ducati, 1.45.831.
3. Nicky Hayden, United States, Honda, 1.45.971.
4. Valentino Rossi, Italy, Yamaha, 1.46.060.
5. Dani Pedrosa, Spain, Honda, 1.46.303.
6. Loris Capirossi, Italy, Suzuki, 1.46.450.
7. Colin Edwards, United States, Yamaha, 1.46.496.
8. Randy De Puniet, France, Honda, 1.46.554.
9. Shinya Nakano, Japan, Honda, 1.46.616.
10. James Toseland, Britain, Yamaha, 1.46.863.

250cc

1. Marco Simoncelli, Italy, Gilera, 1.51.473.
2. Hiroshi Aoyama, Japan, KTM, 1.51.719.
3. Alex Debon, Spain, Aprilia, 1.51.758.
4. Mika Kallio, Finland, KTM, 1.51.765.
5. Alvaro Bautista, Spain, Aprilia,1.51.821.
6. Hector Faubel, Spain, Aprilia, 1.51.973.
7. Julian Simon, Spain, KTM, 1.52.033.
8. Yuki Takahashi, Japan, Honda, 1.52.197.
9. Aleix Espargaro, Spain, Aprilia, 1.52.228.
10. Roberto Locatelli, Italy, Gilera, 1.52.259.

125cc

1. Mike Di Meglio, France, Derbi, 1.58.678.
2. Stefan Bradl, Germany, Aprilia, 1.59.059.
3. Nicolas Terol, Spain, Aprilia, 1.59.104.
4. Sandro Cortese, Germany, Aprilia, 1.59.132.
5. Gabor Talmacsi, Hungary, Aprilia, 1.59.179.
6. Scott Redding, Britain, Aprilia, 1.59.351.
7. Dominique Aegerter, Switzerland, Derbi, 1.59.463.
8. Pol Espargaro, Spain, Derbi, 1.59.562.
9. Andrea Iannone, Italy, Aprilia, 1.59.565.
10. Sergio Gadea, Spain, Aprilia, 1.59.695.