Jorge Lorenzo put an end to his recent slump in form by storming to pole position for this weekend’s MotoGP race at Misano.
Three-time MotoGP champion Lorenzo entered the San Marino Grand Prix weekend having scored just one podium finish in the past six races, a run of form that has seen him slip 64 points behind championship leader Marc Marquez.
Lorenzo produced a storming lap of 1:31.868 towards the end of Q2 at Misano to finish three-tenths of a second clear of the field and pick up his first pole since the French Grand Prix in May.
Lorenzo’s lap saw him beat teammate and nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi, who completed an impressive run for Yamaha in qualifying by finishing second.
The two Yamaha riders will be joined on the front row by Suzuki’s Maverick Vinales, who just six days after his maiden MotoGP victory qualified third on the grid, half a second off Lorenzo’s time.
Series leader Marquez struggled to match the pace of his rivals on Saturday at Misano, fading to P4 in qualifying and over half a second off the pole-man.
Ducati wildcard-turned-replacement entry Michele Pirro impressed to finish fifth-fastest, deputizing for the injured Andrea Iannone. Teammate Andrea Dovizioso qualified sixth ahead of LCR Honda’s Cal Crutchlow.
Dani Pedrosa’s recent struggles continued as he finished eighth-fastest for Honda, while brothers Aleix Espargaro and Pol Espargaro rounded out the top 10 for Suzuki and Yamaha Tech3 respectively.