Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/835410
maltatoday SUNDAY, 11 JUNE 2017 Sport 50 MOTOGP Pedrosa in a class of his own for pole REPSOL Honda's Dani Pedrosa will start his home race from pole position, his second of the year, after setting the fastest time dur- ing qualifying for the Catalan Grand Prix. Pedrosa moved to the front with a time of 1:43.870 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, finish- ing 0.331s faster than compatriot Jorge Lorenzo, who secured his best result since switching to Ducati. Lorenzo held provisional pole after the first runs but was de- moted to second in the wake of Pedrosa's effort, and was subse- quently unable to improve on his initial benchmark. Pramac Ducati's Danilo Petrucci followed up his podium at last weekend's Mugello round by tak- ing third position, just 0.019s down on Lorenzo. Marc Márquez finished fourth but endured a scrappy session, falling through Turn 3, though recovered his RC213V to the pit lane, due to his spare bike being out of action following a practice crash. Márquez then fell again, suffer- ing a low-side through the left- hander at Turn 5, bringing his ses- sion to an early end, the reigning World Champion throwing his hands in the air in the gravel trap. Aleix Espargaró was fifth for Aprilia, ahead of Avintia's Héc- tor Barberá, Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso and Tech 3's Jonas Folger, who led the way in Q1. Championship leader Maverick Viñales took only ninth, having negotiated his way through Q1, on a tricky weekend for Yamaha, the Spaniard having been at odds to explain his sub-par pace. Álvaro Bautista, Scott Redding and Andrea Iannone will form the fourth row of the grid, after bringing up the rear of the pack in Q2. Valentino Rossi's tardy practice pace meant he had to partake in Q1 but he was unable to secure progression through to Q2, fall- ing just 0.040s shy of Viñales' time in the session, with both rid- ers slower than Folger. Rossi, who ran through the gravel at Turn 1 on his out lap, will start from 13th place, in front of Johann Zarco, Jack Miller and Loris Baz. Cal Crutchlow fell at Turn 10 and will line-up from 17th place, ahead of Karel Abraham, Tito Ra- bat and Pol Espargaró. Sam Lowes finished off the pace after missing the first part of Q1 due to a mechanical problem with his Aprilia, leaving him in 21st spot. Sylvain Guintoli did not partici- pate in the session, with Suzuki confirming that he was endur- ing "physical problems", though added that "it doesn't look [like] anything serious". Smith ruled out of Catalan Grand Prix KTM rider Bradley Smith has been ruled out of the remainder of the Catalan Grand Prix, following a crash in Saturday lunch- time's fourth practice session at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Smith fell through Turn 2 and did not ap- pear for the 15-minute Q1 session, before MotoGP officials confirmed he has been de- clared unfit "due to a fifth finger wound of the left hand". Smith joined new manufacturer KTM for 2017 after spending the first four years of his premier class career with Tech 3 Yamaha. The Briton holds 23rd in the standings, having taken a best result of 13th place at the French Grand Prix. Smith's withdrawal means 22 riders are set to compete in today's Grand Prix.