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Title up for grabs: Lorenzo breaks Valencia MotoGP pole record

Spaniard trails leader Rossi by just seven points ahead of season’s last race

Afp November 07, 2015

Lorenzo starts from the front after setting a fastest time in Valencia of 1min 30.011 sec. PHOTO: AFP

VALENCIA: Jorge Lorenzo stormed to pole position in a circuit record time for Sunday’s decisive Valencia Grand Prix to boost his chances of claiming a third MotoGP world championship.

Lorenzo smashed defending world champion Marc Marquez’s previous track record by over two tenths of a second to claim his fifth pole of the season in 1min 30.011sec.

Marquez and his Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa complete the front row with championship leader Valentino Rossi forced to start from the back of the grid as punishment for kicking Marquez off his bike at the Malaysian Grand Prix two weeks ago.

Rossi seeks to hold off pursuing Lorenzo

However, despite not needing to register a qualifying time, Rossi still endured a tough session as he flew off his bike into the gravel track.

Thankfully, the nine-time world champion was able to walk away from the crash as he prepares for an assault on a record-equalling eighth title in the premier category of motorcycling.

Lorenzo trails Rossi by just seven points in the championship standings, meaning the Italian will need to finish second to deny his Yahama teammate if Lorenzo wins the race.

Australian MotoGP: Marquez wins thriller on Phillip Island

And Lorenzo hailed his qualifying lap as the best of his career as he attempts to add to the titles he won in 2010 and 2012.

“It was the best lap of my life without a doubt,” he said. “It was perfect. I am very happy.”

All eyes will be on whether Marquez is able to pursue Lorenzo after his controversial clash with Rossi a fortnight ago.

The bad blood between the two started when Rossi accused Marquez of conspiring against him to help Lorenzo land the title at the Australian Grand Prix last month.

Marquez flies to Australian MotoGP pole

Rossi then said Marquez had ‘made me lose the championship’ when he was slapped with starting from the back of the grid after their clash in Sepang.

However, Marquez insisted he will be going for his sixth race victory of the season on Sunday.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 8^th, 2015.

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