Finding words to describe the performance of Casey Stoner at Phillip Island is becoming impossible.
The Repsol Honda rider was faster than light as he blazed to his fifth consecutive pole position, his 11th of this incredible 2011 season.
Laying down an untouchable 1’29″975 that left the hard working Jorge Lorenzo, who has an impressive race pace in the first three sectors, while losing almost two tenths in the fourth, in second place and 0.
473s adrift.
Gresini’s Marco Simoncelli who has crashed three times so far this weekend, grabbed the final place spot on the front row, bumping a surprising Alvaro Bautista who ended up fourth after grabbing a tow by Andrea Dovizioso who finished in fifth.
This was Bautista’s best qualifying session ever on the GSV-R.
Nicky Hayden was the best Ducati rider taking 6th after tailing Lorenzo around the track.
Early in the session Ben Spies lowsided out at Turn 3 and ended up limping that warranted a visit to the Medical Centre, but he was able to return to track and qualify 7th.
Dani Pedrosa was unexplainably only 8th after heading the top of the chart for a brief moment.
Colin Edwards took ninth and Loris Capirossi closed out the top ten after being in sixth early on.
Randy de Puniet finished in 11th ahead of Hiroshi Aoyama who had a big crash at turn 12.
Valentino Rossi managed to pull himself out of 15th to take a very dismal 13th and is a massive two seconds slower than Casey Stoner.
Not for the lack of trying, Karel Abraham crashed out in the final minute of the session was 15th ahead of Toni Elias, while Damian Cudlin who standing in for Hector Barbera at Aspar Ducati and following his big crash in FP3, did not make the qualifying cut and is uncertain to start Sunday’s race.
MotoGP Phillip Island Qualifying results:01- Casey Stoner – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – 1’29.
97502- Jorge Lorenzo – Yamaha Factory Racing – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 0.
47303- Marco Simoncelli – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – + 0.
62404- Alvaro Bautista – Rizla Suzuki MotoGP – Suzuki GSV-R – + 0.
73905- Andrea Dovizioso – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – + 0.
80506- Nicky Hayden – Ducati Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11.
1 – + 0.
81707- Ben Spies – Yamaha Factory Racing – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 0.
86008- Dani Pedrosa – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – + 0.
89609- Colin Edwards – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 1.
26210- Loris Capirossi – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – + 1.
60811- Randy De Puniet – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – + 1.
66012- Hiroshi Aoyama – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – + 1.
91413- Valentino Rossi – Ducati Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11.
1 – + 2.
00514- Cal Crutchlow – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 2.
04815- Karel Abraham – Cardion AB Motoracing – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – + 2.
07916- Toni Elias – LCR Honda MotoGP – Honda RC212V – + 2.
52817- Damian Cudlin – Mapfre Aspar Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – + 6.
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