Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/820803
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 7 MAY 2017 57 MOTOGP FORMULA 1 Sport Pedrosa takes a stunning pole position in Jerez Repsol Honda rider heads the grid for the first time since Sepang 2015 DANI Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) took an incredible pole position in qualifying for the Gran Premio Red Bull de Es- paña, taking to the top in a last dash and teammate Marc Mar- quez unable to depose him on his last lap. Pedrosa was fastest on Friday and on Saturday in FP3, on the charge at his first home race of the year. Behind Marquez is Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) completing the front row in a Honda 1-2-3. Movistar Yamaha MotoGP rid- er Maverick Viñales took fourth to head up the second row ahead of Q1 graduate and comeback king Andrea Iannone (Team Su- zuki Ecstar), with rookie Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) in sixth. Fourteen world titles start the Spanish GP from the third row, with Championship leader Val- entino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) in seventh just ahead of Ducati Team's Jorge Lorenzo only 0.002 back, as the 'Spartan' had a good day's work on Sat- urday, back up the timesheets in his home race. Jonas Folger (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) is ninth in another solid result for the German rookie. Jack Miller (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS) backed up his Friday pace with direct entry to Q2 and a top ten start despite a crash, with Scott Redding (Octo Pramac Racing) in eleventh and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) in P12 after grad- uating from Q1. The rider from Granollers was another crasher in the Q2 session. Danilo Petrucci (Octo Pra- mac Racing) starts P13 from Q1, ahead of Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) and a stunning display from Red Bull KTM Fac- tory Racing's Pol Espargaro to complete the top fifteen, just ahead of teammate Bradley Smith. The lights go out for the in- credible Spanish GP at Jerez on Sunday at 14:00 (GMT +2) – with Pedrosa on pole for the first time since Sepang 2015. Schumacher to be honoured at football match SEVEN-TIMES Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schu- macher will be honoured in the second edition of the 'Champi- ons for Charity' football match later this year. His son, F3 racer Mick, will be joined by an array of stars, including Mika Häkkinen and World Cup winner Miroslav Klose, for the match in Mainz on July 3. The event will raise money for two charities – the Dirk Nowitz- ki Foundation, set up by the bas- ketball superstar, and the Keep Fighting Initiative, launched by Schumacher's family. "For me it is a matter of course that I will be at the 'Champions for Charity' match," said F3 racer Schumacher. "Last year's match was so much fun and it is a good feeling to be able to support charitable pur- poses. "This combination of fun and meaning is perfect in my eyes. I am pleased that Dirk, all the other players and the spectators in the stadium see it in the same way. "I'm looking forward to an en- tertaining game."