Lorenzo smashes Brno record to take pole

Yamaha Factory Racing rider Jorge Lorenzo took pole position today for tomorrow’s Grand Prix of Czech Republic with a stunning pace at the Brno circuit. The Championship leader had struggled to find form in the free practice sessions before reverting to the first ever set up used in the first 1000cc M1 test last year. The change bought immediate results, Lorenzo smashing the Brno lap record with a stunning 1’55.799 time.

Jorge Lorenzo, Yamaha Factory Racing

Photo by: Yamaha MotoGP

Team mate Ben Spies was also on top form for the qualifying session. The Texan was often the fastest man through the first two splits and looked a definite to complete a Yamaha front row for tomorrow’s grid until a last lap effort by Dani Pedrosa moved him to fourth on the second row of the grid. Spies wrapped up qualifying just 0.004 seconds from a front row start.

Jorge Lorenzo - Position 1st - Time: 1'55.799 - Laps 20: “We were struggling so much to find the way to set up the bike this morning, we were very lost. Then we went back to the setting we used the first time we tried the 1000 here in Brno last year and it was great. I really enjoyed riding the bike, sliding more as well with less electronics. I just wanted to stay out on the track and just keep riding and riding to improve the lap time.”

Ben Spies Position 4th - Time: 1'56.331 - Laps 23: “Overall that was a pretty good qualifying session, I made a couple of small mistakes on a couple of hot laps which I think could have put us on the front row. The bike and team are working really well and we’ve got a good pace for the race so I’m hoping for a trouble free day tomorrow to see what we can do.”

Source: Yamaha Factory Racing