With teammate Valentino Rossi’s appeal to CAS still looming in the background, perhaps Jorge Lorenzo feels his safest bet is to win the race tomorrow … regardless of where Rossi finishes. Lorenzo increased his chances of doing exactly that today by breaking the lap record on the way to taking pole position for tomorrow’s race. Lorenzo’s lap was so quick it put roughly 1/2 a second between himself and the next two qualifiers, the Repsol Honda duo of Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa.
Valentino Rossi, despite his FIM punishment placing him last on tomorrow’s grid, participated in qualifying and pushed hard (we think we know why – see below). Rossi found the gravel outside of Turn 8 when he lost the front during his fast lap, however, and ultimately recorded the slowest lap time in Q2. Rossi was unhurt.
As we reported earlier, Rossi was denied his request for a stay by CAS, but his appeal of the punishment levied by the FIM goes forward. Rossi likely thinks that, should his appeal be successful, he could be awarded points for this race based on his qualifying position rather than his finishing position. This could explain his effort to qualify, as normal, during this race. Here are the Q2 results from Valencia earlier today:
| Pos. | Num. | Rider | Team | Km/h | Time | Gap 1st/Prev. |
| 1 | 99 | Jorge LORENZO | Movistar Yamaha MotoGP | 320.9 | 1’30.011 | |
| 2 | 93 | Marc MARQUEZ | Repsol Honda Team | 322.1 | 1’30.499 | 0.488 / 0.488 |
| 3 | 26 | Dani PEDROSA | Repsol Honda Team | 323.1 | 1’30.516 | 0.505 / 0.017 |
| 4 | 41 | Aleix ESPARGARO | Team SUZUKI ECSTAR | 312.5 | 1’30.917 | 0.906 / 0.401 |
| 5 | 35 | Cal CRUTCHLOW | LCR Honda | 319.4 | 1’30.948 | 0.937 / 0.031 |
| 6 | 38 | Bradley SMITH | Monster Yamaha Tech 3 | 322.0 | 1’31.012 | 1.001 / 0.064 |
| 7 | 29 | Andrea IANNONE | Ducati Team | 329.8 | 1’31.056 | 1.045 / 0.044 |
| 8 | 44 | Pol ESPARGARO | Monster Yamaha Tech 3 | 321.5 | 1’31.080 | 1.069 / 0.024 |
| 9 | 4 | Andrea DOVIZIOSO | Ducati Team | 327.2 | 1’31.245 | 1.234 / 0.165 |
| 10 | 9 | Danilo PETRUCCI | Octo Pramac Racing | 323.0 | 1’31.292 | 1.281 / 0.047 |
| 11 | 25 | Maverick VIÑALES | Team SUZUKI ECSTAR | 317.4 | 1’31.340 | 1.329 / 0.048 |
| 12 | 46 | Valentino ROSSI | Movistar Yamaha MotoGP | 319.1 | 1’31.471 | 1.460 / 0.131 |
See more of MD’s great photography:
fInally, we can look forward to next year
A Vale-ent effort.
All I want is a miracle.
Happily, I’m at peace w/whatever happens in eight hours. Whoever wins the Crown, I congratulate him.
Hoping for a clean race, no injuries, and may Suzuki pull out the win, for a show-stopping finish.
Jlo would be a fitting champion as would Rossi. Both have performed really well this year. Jlo would be better liked if he didn’t do the sillys after he wins, make excuses after he loses, and if he was more um… humble shall we say. His own worst enemy with the fans. The guy has an awful lot of talent. Never on the fastest motorcycle but when he is railing, holy cow is he fast. Stepping into or putting himself into the Sepang clash was a disaster. Doesn’t he have advisors or agents? If he does he should fire them, if he doesn’t, he should get some pronto.
only a few more hours before the race.
Good luck to all.
There will always be a shadow of doubt if JLwins the championship. It would be a better race it VR wasn’t starting from the back and actually a better victory for JL if he does win.
…the only “shadow of doubt”, is why would Valentino Rossi, with such cool and calculating efforts so far this year, placing him in the championship lead, at these last two races loose his head, attack Marquez, pull such a bumbling clown act, get caught with his leg in the cookie jar, and be the laughing stock of such an intense controversy here at seasons end? VR has no one to blame, or congratulate, if he Looses or wins the championship, but himself.
“leg in the cookie jar”. Good one. For the sake of the fans, without whom there would be no MotoGP as we know it, let’s hope it’s not a procession tomorrow.
The question will always be there: what if….
everyone wanting a spectacular race. if JL wins then he is likely champion unless rossi can make it to 2nd. JL wins, that is a lot of victories and his riding will have earned the championship, no question about it. Give him his trophy, the cheque, and send him home where he can party in peace and quiet.I doubt there will be many fans trying to disturb him and I doubt he will notice. He can always invite Mark and his fans over to fill up the hot tub.
Brutal. +11.
“Mark and his fans” BAAAAM
JL (cracks under pressure) and MM (takes himself out) both DNF and Dani and Rossi on the podium. That would be great end for 2015. Rossi retires.
only Moses parting the “Red Sea of Backmarkers” as the lights go out so he can zoom to the front will make this race worth watching.
More than likely Rossi’s tires will be toast by the time he works his way up to within shouting distance of the leaders. He’ll probably make it interesting in the beginning, but that’s about it.
This blows.
1+
Well strap yourself down, Norm, I think your front row seat to the Exodus will provide quite the spectacle. Unfortunately, I also think sweet irony will make it’s presence felt by having Marquez sandwich Lorenzo and Rossi in a race order finish that will deny Vale and Valeraelites the title.
Then don’t watch it and stay in your cocoon of modern day witchcraft. If your interest of the series is so superficial just because your deity hasn’t been anointed to the trone, perhaps you should stay home with the women and Harley riders.
Nice work. In taking him to task, you win today’s award for most asinine comment.
The guy us really unstoppable. You have to hand it to him, he’ll deserve the title if he can take it this year.
Yep, if he can overcome, birthdays, the FIM, Spanish pride, and Hondas upstart. He mede a race of it in spite of the obstacles.