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Qualification
Follow the United States Grand Prix live. This MotoGP race starts at 21:55 on 28 July 2012. Find race results, calendar, standings, scores and all of this season’s MotoGP races.
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SESSION OVER: And it’s Lorenzo who snatches pole from Stoner, Pedrosa and Spies with his final lap. Thanks for joining us.
We have a new provisional pole sitter and it’s Casey Stoner with a 1:20.628. Stunning lap from the Aussie!
Lorenzo improves to a 1:20.693, comfortably a new lap record. It has taken four years to break the record on a 1000cc motorcycle.
Valentino Rossi, incidentally, is tenth.
Bautista has dropped back. The top five is Lorenzo, Pedrosa, Stoner, Spies and Crutchlow.
Spies is third but that should be the end of his qualifying.
A crash from Ben Spies. Looked like a nasty one but he has staggered to his feet. He should be okay.
This is the tightest and twistiest circuit on the MotoGP calendar and Hayden loves it here but is struggling in ninth.
It’s still Lorenzo from Pedrosa, Spies, Stoner and Bautista. Spanish riders occupying three of the top five spots.
Stoner is in avid discussion with his mechanics in the garage. He currently lies third quickest.
Bradl has jumped his Honda to sixth quickest. Good lap from the German rider.
So halfway through qualifying it is still Lorenzo from Pedrosa, Stoner, Spies, Dovizioso and Crutchlow. Hayden is seventh and Rossi tenth.
Spies announced earlier this week that he will leave the team at the end of the season, whilst not disclosing any future plans
Spies will be especially determined to do well on his home turf but he is still fourth quickest with his championship leading team-mate occupying pole. Not bad for Yamaha.
Still no change at the top. Lorenzo quickest with a 1:20.899 from Pedrosa, Stoner and Spies.
For you Brit petrolheads, Crutchlow is sixth quickest, the sandwich filling in between Dovizioso and Hayden.
Ben Spies has jumped to fourth quickest with a 1:21.828.
Of the other former champions, Nicky Hayden is now ninth quickest and Colin Edwards 15th.
Stoner has announced his retirement after this season, far too early in the opinion of many. Can he sign off in a bang on a circuit he loves? Do you think he has retired too early? Tweet me @fmasefield with your opinions.
Lorenzo still quickest from Pedrosa, Stoner and Dovizioso. Crutchlow currently fourth.
Stoner has a new engine for USA as does Pedrosa.
And Lorenzo is the quickest man on track with a 1:21.140 from Stoner, Pedrosa and Crutchlow.
All the talk in the paddock is of Valentino Rossi possibly partnering Jorge Lorenzo next season.
SESSION UNDERWAY: The first bikes are out on the circuit.
Two-time Laguna Seca winner, Ducati Team’s Nicky Hayden, looking cool as ever in the garage with his shades on. The action will start shortly folks.
Jorge Lorenzo was fastest as both works Honda riders opted not to go out in a truncated final MotoGP practice session at Laguna Seca. Heavy fog not only restricted visibility but also affected track conditions, meaning the first half hour was an effectively a write-off.
Jorge Lorenzo leads the riders standings with 185 points with five wins from Dani Pedrosa and Casey Stoner, who is still hopeful of landing another title. Andrea Dovizioso is fourth, 13 points ahead of Britain’s Cal Crutchlow.
Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa set the pace after Friday afternoon’s session ahead of Jorge Lorenzo and Casey Stoner.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the qualifying session for the US GP at Laguna Seca, California.