CORRECTED - Motorcycling-Lorenzo on pole for first night MotoGP in Qatar

Sat Mar 8, 2008 11:24pm GMT
 
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Please read 125cc winner as Bradley Smith (corrects from Stefan) in seventh para

DOHA, March 8 (Reuters) - Debutant Jorge Lorenzo of Spain clinched pole position for Sunday's first night MotoGP race at the Losail International Circuit in qualifying on Saturday.

The 20-year-old clocked a lap record of 1 minute 53.927 seconds for Fiat Yamaha with Briton James Toseland and Tech 3 Yamaha team mate Colin Edwards second and third on the grid.

Australian world champion Casey Stoner was fourth and starts on the second row with Frenchman Randy de Puniet and American former world champion Nicky Hayden for LCR and Repsol Honda.

Five times world champion Valentino Rossi failed to keep pace, finishing seventh for Fiat Yamaha. The Italian was followed by 2007 runner-up Dani Pedrosa with Repsol Honda.

Lorenzo said it was a special moment and he had dreamt of securing pole position in his first MotoGP.

"I didn't expect this in my first race. I was just dreaming of getting to the pole position. Now it has come true," the 2007 250cc world champion said. "It's a special moment."

Britain's Bradley Smith, who survived a fall on the last lap, took pole position in the 125cc category.  Continued...

 

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