Rossi and Lorenzo complete the front row as Crutchlow salvages impressive P5 in a washed out Q2
The second Qualifying session of the MotoGP World Championship at the #MalaysianGP.
Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) has taken a stunning pole position at Sepang International Circuit, as the Italian veteran sliced half a second off the time at the top and remained unthreatened. Compatriot Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) took second on his final lap, just edging out teammate Jorge Lorenzo.
Dovizioso came out fighting near the start of the session, and set what was an unthreatened provisional pole position laptime on only his second attempt – before being the only man able to beat that as he later took another few hundredths off. Rossi suffered a small moment around Turn 1 in the session, before gathering it back in to go for another attack and just take second on his final run.
Lorenzo, who has struggled in 2016 getting the Michelin wet front tyre to work for him, put in a stunning show in the difficult conditions to not only duel with teammate Rossi, but qualify on the front row in conditions that have proved more difficult for the Mallorcan this season.
Reigning World Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) heads the second row as he struggles with illness and isn’t quite 100%, with Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) crashing out as he pushed to move forward – and then picking the bike up to go for one more lap, taking an impressive P5.
Recovering and returning Andrea Iannone (Ducati Team) put in a solid run in difficult conditions to qualify in sixth, ahead of the Team Suzuki Ecstar duo of Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Viñales – who both struggled slightly more in the wet conditions of the Q2 session.
Alvaro Bautista (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) will line up ninth after not only graduating to Q2 but also qualifying within the top ten for the Noale factory, with Loris Baz (Avintia Racing) impressing to complete the top ten, after graduating from Q1.
Pol Espargaro (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) was P11 after a tyre decision switch, ahead of twelfth-placed Hector Barbera (Avintia Racing), with race day however sure to see track conditions change once again – and Sepang International Circuit ready for another spectacular Sunday clash.
1 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA Ducati Team Ducati 295.4 2'11.485 2 46 Valentino ROSSI ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha 296.5 2'11.731 0.246 / 0.2463 99 Jorge LORENZO SPA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha 303.2 2'11.787 0.302 / 0.0564 93 Marc MARQUEZ SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 302.7 2'11.874 0.389 / 0.0875 35 Cal CRUTCHLOW GBR LCR Honda Honda 304.3 2'12.558 1.073 / 0.6846 29 Andrea IANNONE ITA Ducati Team Ducati 282.4 2'12.598 1.113 / 0.0407 41 Aleix ESPARGARO SPA Team SUZUKI ECSTAR Suzuki 303.4 2'12.869 1.384 / 0.2718 25 Maverick VIÑALES SPA Team SUZUKI ECSTAR Suzuki 295.5 2'12.981 1.496 / 0.1129 19 Alvaro BAUTISTA SPA Aprilia Racing Team Gresini Aprilia 294.1 2'13.325 1.840 / 0.34410 76 Loris BAZ FRA Avintia Racing Ducati 294.9 2'13.452 1.967 / 0.12711 44 Pol ESPARGARO SPA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 284.7 2'13.707 2.222 / 0.25512 8 Hector BARBERA SPA Avintia Racing Ducati 290.5 2'13.973 2.488 / 0.266
Weather Conditions: Track Condition: Wet| Air: 26º| Humidity: 100%| Ground: 28º
Records:
Fastest Lap: Lap: 6 Andrea DOVIZIOSO 2'11.485 151.7 Km/hCircuit Record Lap: 2015 Jorge LORENZO 2'00.606 165.4 Km/hBest Lap: 2015 Dani PEDROSA 1'59.053 167.6 Km/h
