The conditions could not have been a greater contrast to Phillip Island in Australia six days ago but despite the extreme heat and humidity, Spaniard Dani Pedrosa grabbed his third consecutive pole around this long demanding 3.447 mile Sepang circuit. The Repsol Honda rider, who has won 125 and 250cc races at Sepang, is joined on the front row of the grid for the Polini Malaysian Grand Prix by World Champion Casey Stoner and Italian Marco Melandri who joins the Australian at Marlboro Ducati next season.
It promises to be a 27-lap battle of stamina and fitness especially, despite the length of the circuit, the first 11 riders were separated by less than one second. The Kawasaki pair of Randy De Puniet, who crashed early in the one-hour session and Australian Anthony West are joined on the second row by outgoing World Champion American Nick Hayden.
Another former World Champion Valentino Rossi could only qualify ninth and starts from the third row of the grid for a race he has won four times.
After three practice sessions it was Stoner, who chases his tenth grand prix victory of the season, who led the way on the Bridgestone race tyres. Pedrosa took pole on Michelin qualifying tyres and the 27-lap race on the re-surfaced track tomorrow will certainly test the tyres to the very limit in a week when a decision about the one make tyre rule will be announced.
Results:
1. Dani PEDROSA (SPA) HONDA 2'01.877,
2. Casey STONER (AUS) DUCATI 2'01.918,
3. Marco MELANDRI (ITA) HONDA 2'01.944,
4. Randy DE PUNIET (FRA) KAWASAKI 2'02.107,
5. Anthony WEST (AUS) KAWASAKI 2'02.202,
6. Nicky HAYDEN (USA) HONDA 2'02.225,
7. Chris VERMEULEN (AUS) SUZUKI 2'02.301,
8. Toni ELIAS (SPA) HONDA 2'02.432,
9. Valentino ROSSI (ITA) YAMAHA 2'02.466,
10. John HOPKINS (USA) SUZUKI 2'02.697,
17. Chaz DAVIES (GBR) DUCATI 2'04.197.
Smith Falls Chasing The Pace Sixteen year-old Bradley Smith crashed without injury at the end of the 125cc qualifying session as he struggled to find a good set up for the 19-lap race tomorrow. The Oxford–based rider finally qualified 15th and will start from the fourth row of the grid for the penultimate round of the Championship.
“We just can’t get the front end set–up correctly for the fast downhill corners and it’s been a big problem,” explained Smith, who was unhurt in the tumble. “We changed the centre of gravity of the bike but it made little difference. Hopefully in the warm-up tomorrow morning we can make some progress.”
Danny Webb seeking his second points scoring ride was 25th fastest in the 125cc session with Eugene Laverty 20th in the 250cc class, despite a crash in the morning practice on the LCR Production Honda.
Chaz Davies starts from the sixth row of the grid in the MotoGP race after qualifying 17th on just his third grand prix ride on the Pramac D’Antin Ducati. Davis knows the Sepang track well from his 125 and 250cc days and will be seeking his first MotoGP points tomorrow. If it rains he may be even happier.
