Motorcycling: Pedrosa takes pole at Italian MotoGP

MUGELLO: Spain’s Dani Pedrosa will start from pole in today’s Italian MotoGP after posting the fastest time in qualifying yesterday. The 26-year-old Honda star - who won last Sunday’s German MotoGP - will start ahead of Jorge Lorenzo, on a Yamaha, while Hector Barbera, is third on the grid on a Ducati. It is Pedrosa’s 39th pole position of his career — the 21st in this category. His Australian teammate and defending world champion Casey Stoner was fifth fastest, while Italian legend Valentino Rossi was only 10th fastest. Lorenzo who was fastest in practice on Friday was disappointed. “I had engine problems in the final corners and I had to stop,” said Lorenzo. “We have to correct this problem before tomorrow.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 15^th, 2012.