News

Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo produced a storming late qualifying lap on Saturday to pip Yamaha team mate Valentino Rossi to pole position for Sunday''s Catalan MotoGP.

In sweltering conditions at Barcelona''s Circuit de Catalunya, the 22-year-old clocked a fastest time of 1:41:974 to beat the Italian world champion by 0.013 seconds and secure his third pole of 2009.

Championship leader Casey Stoner qualified third on his Ducati, 0.452 seconds behind Lorenzo.

Australian Stoner leads the standings after five of the season''s 17 races with 90 points, followed by Lorenzo on 86 and Rossi on 81.

Injury-plagued Dani Pedrosa, the Honda rider who is 24 points behind Rossi in fourth overall, qualified eighth for his home race after crashing near the end of the session.

Spanish Aprilia rider Julian Simon took pole in the 125cc category ahead of compatriot Pol Espargaro of the Derbi team.

MotoGP qualifying result:

1. Jorge Lorenzo (Spain) Yamaha 1 min 41.974 secs
2. Valentino Rossi (Italy) Yamaha 1:41.987
3. Casey Stoner (Australia) Ducati 1:42.426
4. Andrea Dovizioso (Italy) Honda 1:42.594
5. Toni Elias (Spain) Honda 1:43.139
6. Colin Edwards (U.S.) Yamaha 1:43.168
7. Randy de Puniet (France) Honda 1:43.175
8. Dani Pedrosa (Spain) Honda 1:43.207
9. James Toseland (Britain) Yamaha 1:43.233
10. Mika Kallio (Finland) Ducati 1:43.336

250cc:

1. Hector Barbera (Spain) Aprilia 1 min 46.749 secs
2. Alvaro Bautista (Spain) Aprilia 1:46.899
3. Marco Simoncelli (Italy) Gilera 1:46.908
4. Thomas Luethi (Switzerland) Aprilia 1:47.081
5. Alex Debon (Spain) Aprilia 1:47.125
6. Hiroshi Aoyama (Japan) Honda 1:47.166
7. Mattia Pasini (Italy) Aprilia 1:47.225
8. Hector Faubel (Spain) Honda 1:47.379
9. Mike Di Meglio (France) Aprilia 1:47.426
10. Ratthapark Wilairot (Thailand) Honda 1:47.559

125cc:

1. Julian Simon, Spain, Aprilia, 1 minute, 51.448 seconds.
2. Pol Espargaro, Spain, Derbi, 1:51.468.
3. Jonas Folger, Germany, Aprilia, 1:51.787.
4. Randy Krummenacher, Switzerland, Aprilia, 1:51.804.
5. Sergio Gadea, Spain, Aprilia, 1:51.824.
6. Nicolas Terol, Spain, Aprilia, 1:51.958.
7. Bradley Smith, Britain, Aprilia, 1:52.209.
8. Andrea Iannone, Italy, Aprilia, 1:52.384.
9. Stefan Bradl, Germany, Aprilia, 1:52.432.
10. Scott Redding, Britain, Aprilia, 1:52.536.