Spaniard Dani Pedrosa delighted the home crowd on Saturday by taking pole position for the Spanish MotoGP, with compatriot Jorge Lorenzo hot on his heels in second place.
Pedrosa has been having technical problems with his Honda, but was fastest with a lap of one minute, 39.202 seconds.
The six quickest riders were separated by less than half a second in a thrilling qualifying session, with Lorenzo on a Yamaha and Australian Casey Stoner on a Ducati completing the front row of the grid.
PHOTO: EPA
“It’s always nice to get pole position and especially here because it is my home race and the support from the fans is amazing,” Pedrosa told reporters.
It was his 14th MotoGP pole, but the 24-year-old said there was still a lot of work to do on his bike ahead of yesterday’s race.
“I really didn’t expect this pole, to be honest,” Pedrosa said. “The new frame is delivering some improvements, but we’re not all the way there yet and we must continue to work on the stability ... to be competitive over race distance.”
World champion Valentino Rossi, who has been struggling with a bruised shoulder picked up in a motocross accident earlier in the month, headed the second row along with American Nicky Hayden and Frenchman Randy de Puniet.
Stoner’s Ducati teammate Hayden did well to come back after a crash during practice earlier in the day.
Rossi, who won at Jerez last year and in the season-opener in Qatar, said: “Of course it would be better to be on the front row but fourth is okay and I’m very happy about how much we have improved since this morning.”
“My shoulder feels a lot better today. I am still lacking a bit of strength but the pain is okay. I am hoping for a great race tomorrow for all the fans,” Rossi said.
Championship leader Shoya Tomizawa of Japan logged the first pole of his career in Moto2 ahead of Spaniards Julian Simon and Toni Elias and Japan’s Yuki Takahashi.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely