Aragon Qualifying MotoGP

We are ready for a race in San Marino! Lorenzo is absolutely

mugging the lot of them. Jorge Lorenzo does it again in Italy. I

was really motivated. Marquez is so close now, he's threw

down the inside. Rossi will try and cut back. He can lunch down the

inside. He does it. Seven laps left. Dani Pedrosa wants a bit. He's

going! He stands off his team-mate. He is going to run Pedrosa wide. He

made his problem Pedrosa's. Marc Marquez, huge second place. Pedrosa

brings it in in third. I did my best on every lap, even at the beginning

when I found him super fast. I kept pushing and finally I gave my best

every lap. I tried to do every corner perfect. Second place is

still important. In the beginning I was going wide and loft.

For the third time this season the MotoGP paddock is pitched up in

Spain. A very warm welcome to you too arrogant. This is just about the

only sign of life for miles around here but it's bristling with energy

this weekend, as it prepares to host the 14th round of a chap into battle

between three home riders who looks certain to go all the way to the

final round at Valencia. Back-to-back wins for Jorge Lorenzo

at Silverstone and Misano have bought a metal on points with Dani

Pedrosa in second place. With the two old rival still 34 adrift of the

new kid on the two old rival still 34 adrift of the

knows he can afford to finish second in each of the remaining five rounds

to get the title at the first attempt. That is true, but I don't

want to be second every race. At the moment the mentality is the same. If

I have some possibility when, I will try. If not, I try to be on the

podium. Great to hear that Marc is going to be going for the wins over

the final five races. But this could be another big chance for him to do

exactly that. This is not -- has not traditionally been a good circuit

for Jorge Lorenzo. It's the only one he's never won at in Spain. In

practice, he's been a little bit off the pace of the Hondas. I was

suspecting I would do more. For us, for the moment we are not

competitive. We are much slower than we were. We were here four five

competitive. We are much slower than months ago. We know exactly what is

happening. But we are slow on the breaking. Our past drops a lot in

the final two laps. But we are much competitive. That interview was done

after free practice yesterday. Not much progress made today, partly

because of a mixed session this morning in terms of the weather.

We've just had the final free practice and we have the team

director with us. What has been Jorge's problem here, he doesn't

seem to have moved on so far this weekend? This morning we lost a

session. We couldn't test a couple of the solutions we'd prepared.

Anyway, the main problem we had yesterday was a lack of grip and

also difficulty to stop the bike. This afternoon, the pace wasn't so

bad. For sure this is not, Aragorn is not one of the favourites for

Yamaha. But I think we will keep pushing because as we already did in

the last two races, we found the solution during warm up. You have 15

minutes of qualifying coming up to try some last settings. Jorge is

really having to ride to his best in the last couple of rounds to win.

It's going to take something extra special tomorrow. As we did in

Misano in Silverstone, we will probably continue in that way also

here. Unfortunately, the conditions were completely different compared

to the test. The test was really good. In terms of speed and also

pace. We don't know what has happened, but the bike doesn't react

in the test. But we are working on it. They are working very hard. I'm

pretty sure that tomorrow morning they will come up with some good

solutions. But during this pre-prep, if we didn't stop it means that

overall the feeling of the bike wasn't so bad. The main priority for

us was to test the tyres. We were really considering to use what wants

to use for the race. I want to see which one is feeling. I think we are

going to see an interesting qualifying session. You will have a

little time to chat to him before Q2 qualifying session. You will have a

takes place. The last thing you want is to open the curtains this morning

and see the cloud and rain we saw in a completely useless session for

everybody. It's so frustrating when that happens. Yes, your

consideration is right. We prepared a couple of things. Unfortunately,

we couldn't, so we had to test this afternoon. We lost time. But we will

make up for it. As you saw then, the riders entertained themselves this

morning, not much else going out on track. It means the qualifying order

for this afternoon was decided on the compound free practice times

from yesterday. The top ten automatically through to Q2,

including Spa go in ninth place, an impressive performance from him. Cal

Crutchlow rebuilding confidence and fitness, not quite there yet after

that big crash at Silverstone Ulster but he's back in the top six.

Bradley Smith just missing the cut in 13th place. No chance to redeem

himself this morning. He will be going out in just a few moments time

in Q1. Another name to look out for is Yonny Hernandez on the Pramac

Ducati. He's taking the place of Ben Spies for the remainder of this

season. The latest rumours regarding Ben are that Ducati want him to go

to world Superbikes next year. Perhaps his place in that team could

be taken by Eugene Laverty. . Steve and Charlie, Charlie, you will

be looking out for his replacement at Paul Bird Motorsport this weekend

as well. Indeed. He is chipping away. He's

had the odd flash appearance here for us. The grid at the rear end is

shuffling a bit. It's always tough for any rider coming in, having run

round. You've got to try and get the bike dialled into how you want it. I

had a long chat with Damien, he's struggling a bit with lack of engine

braking going into the corners. Clouds around at the moment but I

think we will get a dry session. The forecast was for rain this

afternoon. We see some interesting wildlife around. You've been for

walks around the local desert, Charlie? Indeed I have, I was

borrowing only this morning. Fantastic architecture around here.

It's almost like being on a lunar landscape in some ways, but there

are these beautiful towns you go through. They are very ancient

indeed. Almost as old as you, partner. Guess, it should be an

indeed. Almost as old as you, interesting qualifying session. It's

really going to be about that front row. Mr Marquez has been very fast.

Bradley Smith getting his last bits of wisdom from Randy. He obviously

didn't have any before Bradley went out yesterday, because Brad has made

the cut straight into the second practice more than once this year.

At this time it wasn't to be. In fact, he's behind Hector Barbera as

well. But we've seen Bradley in this position before. He's dug deep and

got himself up into the free practice number two qualifying.

Let's keep our fingers crossed for him now. The times we are watching

for here, well, the fastest outright was Marquez 48.9 yesterday

afternoon. At the very best of these guys, Bradley managed a 50.9,

Iannone, who was also going to be in this session, was a 50.7. Anything

Iannone, who was also going to be in in the low 50s will be interesting.

Randy De Puniet had a crash this morning and he's really struggling

to put it together. Espargaro is really doing so well, making Poor

old Randy look a bit silly. Greene I don't think Brandy has it right.

He's been doing a lot of test riding for Suzuki. Suzuki is supposed to be

coming back in 2015. Ride on Randy. Bradley going out. He really needs

to concentrate, not flop around, use too much engine or tire. Q2 is the

real key. Absolutely right. He will get a soft rear tyre given to him.

There is usually about two goes at it. They will do a few laps. Steve,

if you think about it for Bradley, as Matt was saying, it was

frustrating that Jorge didn't get the testing this morning because of

the difficult track conditions. Michael Laverty goes across the

line. He has switched to be a R T machine, not the PBM Aprilia chassis

bike. Michael is saying that the engine management is a lot better on

this bike. He's got the bike going into the corners better, engine

braking system works a lot better on this because it's got the full

system, as opposed to be Dorna system that most of the teams will

be running next year. But he is system that most of the teams will

encountering some chatter, they are trying to work on that. You've got

Kawasaki, Honda powered FTIRs. Within the Paul Bird team, his own

chassis and his brilliant off-the-shelf race bike. This man

has now been promoted, Michael Laverty having a go at that.

Everybody moving up the order a bit. There's a old shuffle of machines

OnBoard. Even BMWs out there. This is the first big push for everyone

trying to get a lap time out there. This is the long straight going

downhill. It is 968 metres long. Not as long as they use in the

Superbikes, because Superbikes go into the hairpin. .

If you are trying for a fast lap, it sometimes worth sacrificing the

corner coming in, so you can get a really good run over the start

finish line. Next year, we have a third class in

this as well. They will all have to be colour-coded. Iannone should be

very quick around here, it is a horsepower so good. The very first

very quick around here, it is a time we visited here back in 2010,

it was a Ducati win with Casey Stoney. Nicky Hayden was also on the

podium in third. We will watch to see who will go with Bradley Smith.

A good time for him. Iannone goes fastest. I think Smith will eclipse

that. That is an improvement. This looks like a cracking lap from

Bradley. Just what he needed. He runs wide and tries to get it neat

and tidy. That is a stormer of a lap from Bradley Smith. Well done, son.

and tidy. That is a stormer of a lap There is more grip, fresh tyres and

he has put a neat one together. Yes, about 0.8 of a second faster than he

has done all week. This is the fourth year here at Aragon. We will

get another run at this. Yonny heroin Daz -- Hernandez is still

pushing hard. Laverty just having an excursion. I think it was Yonny

Hernandez that pushed him off. As you go over the line, there is not

much time to have a look before you're on the brakes. Here we go.

Yes, a lovely lap. Inside we go. Oh! Taking the long way around there as

well. As we move our way up the hill. It is an absolutely

breath-taking bit of tarmac. It is in the middle of nowhere, but it is

an extraordinary course with huge climbs. Really technical up the top.

As we watch Bradley on a lap of another half a second. So he's

looking extremely good. We shall see, as he crosses the line. And

another half a second, a 49.07. Way to go. That time that Bradley's set

with seven minutes remaining would have put him sixth fastest

throughout that session. So I think have put him sixth fastest

he will be coming in and I'm certain that is locked in. He is faster than

Iannone. I can't see anyone bettering that time. That is a very

good time and it is very encouraging for us that Bradley is finding that

sort of grip. We could be in for a stonking main event qualifying, that

will kick off in a few minutes. The sun is out. Enough to keep the track

temperature up and pretty consistent. The air temperature is

not too high and loads of horsepower and horse power you need there for

the climb up the hill and to maximise the run back down. And it

is tough. This is one place where you could be marginal on fuel. It

has been Rossi and Crutchlow have been the two who seem to have used

more fuel. That is an issue, it is marginal, the fuelling on the bikes

and the circuit is 1,500 feet above sea-level so, the air is thinner.

That doesn't help the performance of the engine and on long, high

gearing, you need to have plenty of horsepower. The bike feels slower of

course, once you're in fifth and sixth gear. It with will feel like

you could do with another 50 horsepowers. And you could do with

brakes twice the size. It is a monster stop. The brake temperatures

are high here, they have all got the high density brake disks on here.

Right the way from turn one you have got a big stop into that and another

big stop into turn 5, 7 and 8. It is relentless. There is no time for

them to cool down. If you're scratching your head, it is another

replacement. Scassa is filling in for the rest of year for Karel

Abraham. He couldn't get over that injury and his rited is being taken

by Scassa. And he is not doing a bad job. He has just stormed into this.

He is ninth out of 14. Talk about a vertical learning curve, but it is

not a bad job. Arguably he is doing better than Karel Abraham has done

this season. He got a shoulder injury. It has been about a lot of

crashes this year. He has had a number of tumbles. I think leading

that is Yonny Hernandez. I think he is up to 23. He never seems to

learn. Good luck to him. 49.07 is the time they're chasing, set by

Smith. Iannone has managed 50.06. So it is a storming lap. Hernandez just

behind his team mate, Iannone. But showing pretty well. He is a couple

of seconds adrift of where you need to be to make it up to Q2. One of

the... Oh! I spoke too soon. Yonny Hernandez. That is 23. Perfectly OK,

shaking his head. I imagine it has got pretty badly damaged. Yonny is

on the Prince Mac-- Primac bike. Another one that has got to get a

wriggle on is Hector Barbera. He is still stuck in seventh place. We

shall see what is going on as the boys in Primac are watching for the

performance of Hernandez and Iannone and then they have not quite made

the cut yet. He has now, Hernandez goes over. That is a good time. He

is still a second behind Smith. But he has bumped Iannone back down.

That will rattle the cage, won't it? He is ahead of Iannone, who has been

riding that bike all year. That lap from Hernandez is 100th in front of

the best lap by Iannone. But they're still a second behind the time set

by Smith. 1.42 left of this session. It will be about what Iannone can

do. As we look at it through this section. But it is not going to

happen. This could be a lap. He has got the speed and he has buried

himself under the screen. He is close on 210mph. He slams the brakes

on and he will grip nicely. But he is very deep. He missed the first

apex. But you can cutback. It is not a complete disaster missing the

first apex and he does it. 1. 50. 39. That was a cracking lap. He did

miss the first apex. Here is Hernandez trying to respond. Through

the top corner we go and then the run down the hill. Ever so quick.

You see his head being buff elted -- buffeted around at that sort of

speed. 325K. That is over 200 for him. He is not going to do it. He

speed. 325K. That is over 200 for will have to be neat if he does.

Across the line he goes. No, he does not improve on his own time. There

you go, 19 seconds left and there won't be enough time. Smith wisely

sitting it out now. He can wait for the session too. Yonny Hernandez

still pressing on. I think that soft tyre that he has got on the back,

that machine will be struggling to get enough grip. Most of the riders

say two laps is the optimum grip you get. The tyre does drop off. As we

see Laverty here. He is in tenth on a 51.07. Michael Laverty on the ART

machine. The flags are out. This will be his final run. A good time

from him. Laverty goes ninth. So he has improved. That has put him up

one more row from where he was in tenth. So as we cross the line as we

watch Barbera just trying to do better. A great lap from Aoyama.

Really looking good. He only has one more sector left and it is looking

strong. He might improve himself up into fourth in the session. We shall

see. You can hear the traction control working hard. The engine in

see. You can hear the traction the machines. He gets in front there

and he is on the limit, engine cut. Bradley Smith and Iannone are the

two are going for the Tech 3 and Pramac move forward into the next

session. A glimmer of a smile there. He knows that he is just... Dodged a

bullet by making it into the next session. So well done. And a 49.07

plays very well against the times we have seen. I am wondering, we have

had rain over night, whether the track has got cleaned up a bit. We

know the teams that came here and tested, Honda and Yamaha, they got

down to 148 flat. So faster than we have had. But track conditions

change from day-to-day. What a lot of the riders are saying, you get

out at a GP weekend and they have of the riders are saying, you get

Moto 3 and 2, all running Dunne lop -- Dunlop tyres and that can affect

the way the Bridgestones work. So it doesn't matter what you have done

testing previously. It is what you can do this weekend. A good effort

from Hernandez. That is the first time he has moved up on to the

Ducati there. So that is the entire Columbian contingent. We can have a

look at the times. That was a good bit of work from Bradley Smith. He

found a second in himself. In that last free practice, there is a warm

up before the session, free practice 4, Danni Pedrosa was the fastest and

then Marquez. That plays pretty well. Pretty close to the 48 that

Marquez had done yesterday. So 13th for Hernandez. The best we has had

this season. But that is the best bike he has been on all season.

Pretty happy about that. So he soub. -- should be. We have a gap before

the big guns come out, the top ten. That is Marc Marquez, Pedrosa,

Bautista, Rossi, Dovizioso and Hayden. That will be added to by

Smith and Iannone. The important thing to remember as well, while we

are looking at here. Here is a replay. That is Iannone. That was

close. Birdie. That was as close as you like. So... That would have been

quite focussing for him. Yes, more like fill lipped Island -- Phillip

Island drama. The good news was Cal Crutchlow in that last free practice

was a much improved fellow indeed in the end of the first day he was

sixth. But he was chipping away and he was up into third last sex. I

sixth. But he was chipping away and think maybe he has turned the

corner. -- the last session. It's taken a lot of readjusting. I've

gotten so used to using the rear brakes to controlling the wheelie

and the amount of slide. I've had to change my riding style a lot this

weekend. It was quite difficult but I'm starting to get my head around

it now and I'm making progress. There's more to come from me once I

get adapted to the bike and trust the electronics, because you have

two... You've got to crack a throw past 50% to get the same amount of

power I got on the PBM bike. It's a complete recalculation for the

brain. I'm enjoying riding the Aprilia. The only negative side is a

brain. I'm enjoying riding the lot of chatter. The PBM bike doesn't

chatter, so that's something we've got as a benefit over the ART. I'm

quite happy with that qualifying. And within a 10th of Bob Berra and

Colin. I haven't been there in a long time. Hopefully we can make

some adjustments tonight and take another step forward tomorrow. It's

been the toughest track for me to learn all go because of the nuances

with the new bike and the electronics. It's a lot to take in.

We could have done without losing FP three this morning, but we're making

progress. A lot of firsts this weekend and a lot to take OnBoard.

Michael riding this bike on a new track, but Randy De Puniet is riding

the ART, as he has been all season, you were ahead of him. What about

the track itself? The riders always say it's technical and demanding. It

is. There are a few corners you think you need to run through

faster, but you need to slow to get think you need to run through

the drive out. The same with the fast corners, you have to really

build up to them. That last corner is fast in and fast round. You are

spinning all the way round. There's a lot to get your head around and a

lot to get right technically. It's definitely a difficult circuit. It

doesn't have too much undulation, but there are a few areas where you

drop down where it's quite downhill. It's so easy to rush that

and then it messes up your whole middle section. That happen to me a

few times. I maybe had a good first sector and last sector but didn't

put the middle part together. I'm still learning. I was lucky in FP

four, I got behind Colin Edwards. I learned a lot just following him. If

you get him at the right time you can build with him. It's always good

to follow the experienced guys and pick up the little tricks. . And

here with Yonny Hernandez. Your best qualifying today, some big smiles

for you and the team here. A big difference on this bike. Yes, a lot.

I'm so happy with the team and the bike. I feel really -- really

compatible. I'm really happy. It's my best qualifying of the year. I

think it's good for me, that it started like this. For tomorrow, I

can do my best. I hope it will be a good race. I guess your first

benchmark it is your team-mate. You are just three tenths of Andrea. It

is showing really good progress straightaway on this bike. Yes, I'm

surprised, too. It's my first time officially in the GP. I'm so close

to Andrea. It's good for me. I need to learn a lot with the electronic

things. I think I can be better by the race. I don't know, I will see.

What's the biggest difference between this and the Aprilia? The

power is complicit different. The electronic things, the traction

control and everything is more easy for me. I'm a big guy. When I open

the throttle, the bike roars. Basically, the electronics and the

power. Good luck tomorrow. That's a very interesting point,

Steve. First time out, pretty good. He is a big guy out there. I guess

if he can lead on those electronics, that's what they fall. We heard

Michael Laverty talking about the differences in the two bikes he's

been riding. I can tell you, when you are writing a machine like they

are there, the speeds they are riding and you are really having to

trust in something that is strangely alien to you, it takes an awful lot

of doing, trying to learn the circuit at same time. It doesn't

bear thinking about. He is a male, we aren't good at multi-functioning,

or some males aren't, I am! There are no end to your talents. We now

have the big guns, 12 riders out on the track.

We've got 14 .23 to see who is to be the fastest. You could not bet

against Marc Marquez, he has been pretty much dominant throughout the

two dry sessions on Friday. Having said that, Dani Pedrosa was a bit

faster in the warm up session before this. It's going to be pretty

close. 23 laps tomorrow. I think it will be warm and dry, which is good

news. The bad weather has gone through. Your form guide is on the

left-hand side of the screen. Marquez and the grocer, they were in

the fastest three today. In terms of times, nothing was

quicker this morning. That's why we are talking about yesterday's

times. 48.07 was the best in the free practised four by Dani Pedrosa.

But yesterday it was Marquez, with a 48.9. The pole record here is set by

Casey Stoney in 2011, with a 48 point 451. They are the times to

watch for. With the conditions they are and the

conditions they are under way we just saw Bradley Smith perform on

the Tech three bike, that 48.5 could be in jeopardy. How fast was he

those first two or three laps in Misano? It was incredible. Dani

Pedrosa and Marc Marquez were told they needed to get their act

together the first few laps, because that's what's doing the damage as

far as they are concerned. Jorge, that's what's doing the damage as

with his amazing pace, relatively cold tyres and off the blocks. It is

very special to watch him. I hear from a couple of the

engineers out there, the suspension guys and people like that, they

plough around with the bike but whatever they do, even if they make

it wrong, he seems to ride round it. He is something extremely

special. 12 minutes remaining. We are off for three weeks on the

long haul is after this. In two weeks time we set off for Malaysia

and Australia. Wheelie control working very hard there. Lorenzo

completely buried underneath. Lorenzo couldn't quite get the job

done. 48.2. He didn't get it done last time but he did manage pole

position. You just didn't quite manage to win the race. Yamaha just

nod. With a start like that you'd have to think otherwise.

Straightaway, as you said... This is just like Misano. He seems to be

able to just come out so fast. We're talking about Jorge Lorenzo, number

99, the local writer -- rider. He now lives in Barcelona. In terms of

a race, it's really his only weapon. If Marquez gets ahead of him

too early, it is just all over. The only chance that Lorenzo seems to

have is to drop him off. When he succeeded in doing that at

Silverstone, Marquez was injured, but he wasn't in Misano, it was just

belting job. This is a lot better for Valentino Rossi, who does not

find this format to his liking. It takes a lot longer to wind up and

get in the groove, so that was a very good start from him. I don't

quite know what went on with Marc Marquez's lap. Because it looked

good, the first three pits of it. He will now have to go for one on a

tyre that more wear. That was the moment. That's why that was a

slowdown. He came very close to pitching himself off on two corners

there. Maybe those tyres weren't quite up to temperature. Jorge

Lorenzo faster again. Two laps out of that tyre. Bradl mugs it. How

about that? That is very strong from him. Stefan Bradl was second

quickest yesterday. He's had a bit of a rethink and is going strongly.

He has been really in the doldrums the last few races. Look at these

laps! We are going 47s here. Marquez is on a screamer as well, three

tenths and. This is going to slaughter the qualifying record. He

has still got to get across the start finish time. He's still in the

48s. His team-mate, Dani Pedrosa, has done the job. That was

interesting. The Yamahas were pretty good straight out of the block and

the Hondas work better on the second lap out there. Valentino Rossi has

gone fast but is still in fifth place. There you go, another man

checking his lap time. That is a very eventful corner in the race as

well. Watch for that tomorrow. I don't think they'll be looking at

the lap times tomorrow. Valentino Rossi will have looked to his lap

time and thought, wow! That's a lot faster than he's gone this weekend.

That's the big moment from Marquez. If he streams this thing together,

it's going to be one heck of a lap! He's coming back in for another

tyre. It's a because he got that first lap when the rear tyre has got

the most amount of grip, but it looks to me as though the front tyre

probably wasn't up to temperature. It's also quite a long lap. To get

it back he's got to get his head down. Everyone will come back in

now. Cal Crutchlow in seventh place at

the moment. 48.78. It all gets a bit strange straight

on. When Marquez comes back, that will

be the top logged in. Valentino Rossi is coming in. Every single

bike comes into the pits this time round. 49.2 was the time Bradley

Smith achieved. Since getting into this: Buying session, he is down yet

another half second. They've got to get a ripple on.

Bautista is the first out. It will be critical here, more than anywhere

else, for these guys to find a cap quickly. Dani Pedrosa is first out.

He has a new rear tyre in the back, followed by Stefan Bradl, third

fastest. Marc Marquez, I'm a bit worried. I'm

sure he'll be thinking, do I want to go for it on that first lap and have

a big moment like I did last time? Anyway, we will find out in a minute

because he's going out now. Number 93. He's got the time in him. He's

just got to string it together. Maybe a more brisk build-up of time

on the first lap. Six pole position is already in his first season of

MotoGP. Amongst other ranks and records he has set. Valentino Rossi

being followed out by Iannone. Rossi is this and has taken four

tenths from pole. If all goes well, it will be a tight race tomorrow. Is

Fargo Row, the only proper CRT machine out there. -- Espargaro.

Wranglings going on, he's looking to move to forward racing next season

with the M1 engines. He has to sort his contract out. The trouble is

your tyres cool off and you can get into trouble when you're trying to

build up your speed for your fast lap. The top three are all Hondas.

Lorenzo is now back in fourth, but he is only two tenth from pole.

Bautista has locked his sights on Stefan Bradl. We are with Danni

Pedrosa here. Lap commenced. Now with Crutchlow, down to turn 1.

Up the hill. That is second gear as they climb up to the top of the hill

here. Back wheel up in the air, foot they climb up to the top of the hill

down on the ground from this young man. Just a bit deep. He was a bit

hot into that corner. It is not hard to do as you rush that corner, it

sucks you into it. A tricky corner at the start. A very short part of

the straight before that first turn. But there is a fair bit of run off

at that point. Danni Pedrosa is getting, well number 41 is

Espargaro, trying to get in the slip stream of the Honda. He is quick

through the corners. It is a brilliant bribing -- bike, sweet

handling, but he runs out of squirt down the straight. You're riding

with Cal Crutchlow. His head is in a much better place than after the

last race. This is one of the highest parts of the circuit. This

is where last year we saw him and Dovizioso swapping places. But every

time he lost, he got past Dovizioso. It was a neat battle last year. But

who is going to be the first to set the faster lap? You can expect it is

going to happen, they all have the track in their heads and they know

what grip is available. There was some traffic as well. Cal Crutchlow,

Rossi is on a brilliant lap. He is a 10th under. Cal Crutchlow has

crossed the line, but he has not helped his cause. Rossi is on a

flyer. He is more than a tenth under. But Marquez, nothing at all.

I don't know what is going on there. Rossi into second place. Very close

to the time set by Danni Pedrosa. Rossi knocking on the door of a 47.

Only Danni Pedrosa has managed it. I don't know what the team said to

him, but a big improvement from Rossi. He is a fair bit in front.

Well he is a one and a half tenths faster than who we would expect,

this man? Probably the number one in the team. He will pull something out

of the bag. He is a tenth under already. Expect a lot from him.

There is another 47 for sure. 47.09 is the time he is aiming for.

Marquez is on a good lap as well. It looks as strong as Lorenzo's. Two

parts of the lap gone. Half way through and he is almost two tenths

under. Let's watch for the time of Marquez. He is a tenth and a bit

under. So the preferred lap at the moment Isola Renzo. -- isLorenzo.

Three quarters of the way through, Marquez hunting him down. Lorenzo is

fist. He is working his way down the hill there as Lorenzo gets ready to

cross the straight. Lorenzo's lap is looking brilliant. Rossi is on

another flyer. Lorenzo has done it, 47.08. Rossies is rejuvenated and

Marquez has slaughtered it, 47.08. Rossi improves his position. He is

up into fourth. They all got through before the flag. So there is a

possibility of another lap. Marquez leads. 48.08. Only a tenth of a

second faster than Lorenzo. That was a great lap. We are talking of top,

down to Rossi, just 1.05 of a tenth off. And that is the end of that,

Marquez. He has got pole and he has kept the bike up right. But how

close this a? He is a tenth in front of Lorenzo and a tenth in front of

Danni Pedrosa. He won't know he has got pole. Unless he has looked at

one of the screens around the track. Jorge still on a lap. No, he has

gone by a second. Cal Crutchlow is chasing one. He is in she venth --

seventh at the moment. He will be keen to see if he can drag something

back out of that. He won't be pleased with seventh. Sixth gets him

on to the second row. Cal Crutchlow still pressing on. Lorenzo is not in

his way. Danni Pedrosa is touring. Marquez's job is done. Bradley Smith

has had a strong bit of qualifying here. Right behind his team mate,

Cal Crutchlow, in eighth. Across the line from Lorenzo. That doesn't

matter, that lap. Cal Crutchlow crosses the line and he has nod

helped his cause at all. He remains seventh. The moment we are going to

look at is Marc Marquez had to abort. It was already job done. He

couldn't get it pulled I p. He got so fast through the right-hander. He

couldn't get it stopped. But he probably wouldn't know that he was

on pole at that point. But I think probably wouldn't know that he was

he will do now. Everyone is waving and cheering. The number 93 take his

seventh pole position so far this season with 14 races. It is

extraordinary. 50% of all the races he has taken pole. 47.08. A

hundredth in front of Lorenzo. Only a tenth and a bit in front of Danni

Pedrosa. So Steve, if there is ever a time for Danni Pedrosa to deliver

one of his super starts, it will be here. He tried to get to turn 1

first. But he has got half a chance. .s you mean the -- you mean the

straight being so short? Yes, but the man who has started so well is

the number 99. Lorenzo has bolted. Not only on the starts, but also on

the first lap. In the last couple of races in particular and that was the

key. 14,000 RPM. It takes some, when you put it into launch control, it

takes away some of the traction. What a cheer this young man is

getting. But it all went wrong on that last lap. Who knows how fast

that would have been. About 60 degrees lean angle. Watch the back

tyre. For want of 5,000th of a second, he would be on the front

row. Life in the old dog yet. He does look those fourths at the

moment. Fourth position he has had four fourth places in a row. Now he

is qualifying fourth. Marquez, pole position. It August euros -- August

euros -- augurs well for a good race tomorrow. They are all covered by a

tenth. It is brilliant. Good qualifying for Bradley Smith. He is

two tenth slower than Cal Crutchlow. That will please him being so close

to his team mate. It was a little loose, it took a

while coming that lap. If you think of how many attempts he had, there

was only one that paid dividends. There you go. I hope that is not an

engine gone. We know Yamahas haven't got an abundance left. They wouldn't

run a lot of fuel. They try and keep the weight down and wind up the

horsepower in qualifying. The bike will be kept reasonably light. Danni

Pedrosa doesn't look particularly happy. A front row start for him.

Three Spaniards, the three guyings leading the champ -- the three guys

leading the Championship. The three guys that are the ones to beat. His

heart will skip a beat when he sees his bike being pushed in. Stefan

Bradl started well and he is fifth. He is alongside Bautista. Cal

Crutchlow will be annoyed, because he is on the third row and he is

eight tenth back. So a bit of time to find. That is just one of those

things. The worst grid position for the season for Cal Crutchlow. He

will be very disappointed. But I don't think it reflects his

performance o' over -- across the weekend. In that free practice, he

was right in touch. So tomorrow will tell. Espargaro, you can see his

pink helmet there. The giant killer, he made it straight into qualifying

2 and is tenth in front of Hayden and Iannone and Hernandez. The

engineers looking concerned. Is it fuel? They are hoping it is, I am

sure. We will find out in a second. We have had some very mixed weather

here over the last few events. Let's hope tomorrow is sunny. Marquez has

done it again. Another new record, another pole position. But so close

between the top three of you? Yes, that pole position was so close.

Jorge and Danni were so fast. But I tried to do my best. The most

important is tomorrow. So we need to be concentrated and it will be

important to manage the tyres well, because in the end it is the same

for everybody. Good luck tomorrow. Marc on pole position and there was

some back slapping, because Brad, that was a good afternoon's work.

Yes, absolutely. After quite a dismal last couple of races and

yesterday as well, just nice to turn it around. I did say yesterday #139

wasn't the true reflection and I was able to show that today. And I hope

it continues tomorrow, because the bike felt great. Specially in

qualifying. This is the conditions for the race. The yap ma -- Yamahas

given some weight to the Hondas. I was giving weight to everyone! So

I'm just glad I was able to put the bike where it should be and that is

I'm just glad I was able to put the on eighth position without doubt.

Like I said, we will see tomorrow. The Honda has a bit of an advantage.

But there is no reason why I can't fight in front of the Ducatis. You

will sleep better tonight. Thank you. Much better! That was good and

a lovely approach by Bradley Smith, who has got himself in perspective.

There is the front row. Dani, you said yesterday you need to

sort out your qualifying. Here you are back on the front row with a few

races without. How do you see the race going tomorrow? The first goal

was quite good, so I expect to improve it the second. Finally,

third place and still front row. This is OK, but hoping to do a good

start tomorrow. Because the first corner is very close and there is

not much space to get in a good place after the start, so I wish to

do a good start tomorrow and have a good race. Plenty of work to do

therefore Dani Pedrosa. I think the key is going to be getting into...

Yes, firing it off down the first corner. But it's tight down there.

It is. The guy that's got to get away is Jorge Lorenzo.

Was it fuel or the engine? I did 48.1. I thought I was the first one

but when I looked at the lap time I was in fifth position. I thought,

wow, they are going so fast and I have to be even faster. So the

second try I tried to push a little more and made 47 point seven. Pole

position or very close, I don't know. I couldn't do it. Anyway,

second place is good and tomorrow is the race. The bike at the end, was

it fuel? We hope it was the fuel. We don't want it to be worse.

Let's hope it's not your problem for Jorge Lorenzo. We spoke to you at

the start and you guys had a lot of head scratching to do, but it seems

it was a positive afternoon. Nothing. We talked before. Finally

we could put together something in terms of balance will stop still not

perfect, as usual. For sure we will try to make it a bit better, as much

as we can for tomorrow morning. Anyway, it was strange because when

we were doing the test was good. We couldn't understand why yesterday we

had a lot of troubles, but, yeah, the feeling is much better and we

can work with much less pressure. Let's see if we can make it one step

better and we see the race. One step would be closing up because it was

just one hundredth of pole. And on the other side of the garage,

Valentino had a good session, too. For him, qualifying has been

something of a weak point this season. You are right. The Honda,

the compromise we were looking for. Tomorrow, for sure it's going to be

tough. We still have one doubt with the rear tyre. But we won't give up

until tomorrow afternoon. And this gearbox as well, the one you had at

Misano as well, do you think it will make a big difference over the race

distance here as well? It's not really important for one lap, but to

make their lives easier during the race it is very important. The tyre

life is better. To put less effort. For them, it's also easier to ride

and more difficult to make mistakes. For sure it is something that will

help. Unfortunately we have to wait until Misano, but they want to be

sure that the system was working properly. It looks good so far,

let's see how it goes in the race tomorrow. Let's see what Valentino

can do from the second row. It's a 3-way Spanish tangle here tomorrow

at Aragon. Join us tomorrow and BBC Two.