Killahbyte

MotoGP champion, Valentino Rossi, did not qualify, after placing fastest yesterday on his Fiat Yamaha, and turning fast laps in this morning practice, the Italian crashed and for the first time in his career "The Doctor" will miss his home race.

In a rare occurrence, Rossi crashed at the fast chicane (Turn 13) when he highsided, throwing him from his bike. At the MotoGP medical center, they found via x-rays, "a displaced and exposed fracture of his right tibia". He was airlifted to a nearby hospital for immediate surgery.

 

Doctor Macchiagodena of the Clinica Mobile informed the MotoGP and FIM officials that Rossi's injury is "serious" and "He (Rossi) remained calm, but having seen the images he could already see it was a nasty fall".

Dani Pedrosa scored his second MotoGP pole this season on his Repsol Honda with a time of 1:48.819 -- nearly two-tenths of a second faster than his nearest rival. The Spaniard kept his cool under the heat of the day to land the Italian Grand Prix pole.

"We've been working very hard through free practice and in qualifying this afternoon to improve things from yesterday, and we've achieved this so I'm satisfied," said Pedrosa. "Being on the front row is the important thing and we have to keep our concentration because to win the race is the target - we have to make it tomorrow!"

With temperatures soaring into the mid to upper 30sC (80sF), the riders elected to use the harder Bridgestone compounds for the front with the softer tires on the rear in the final hot qualifying laps at the Mugello circuit.

Pedrosa set his pole winning time on his penultimate lap but he still pushed to the end as did the others since usually it is the last lap where one grabs the pole.

"We were pushing very hard right to the end and we were able to do a good final lap, but the most important factor is that we've been able to be consistent too," Pedrosa said. "Lorenzo will be the man to beat tomorrow, but we are confident, the machine is working better here and we are in better shape than at the last race in Le Mans."

Losing out on the pole at the end was Fiat Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo with his best at 1:48.996. The Spaniard lost the pole in Jerez, Spain to his fellow countryman just one month ago but Lorenzo ended up with the home victory.

At the post qualifying press conference, Lorenzo first commeted on his teammate: "Firstly I want to say how sad I am for Valentino. I know how bad it is to be injured, especially at your home race, and it looks very painful for him. I hope he recovers quickly because the championship will not be the same without him."

Lorenzo kept his front row starting position intact for this year and without a doubt, the current points leader, has his eye on the main prize again but Pedrosa is looking to change that and add points to his tally before the Fiat Yamaha riders sail off into the sunset as the main contenders for this year's title.

"Today we made some good steps forward and I am very happy about how my bike is feeling here in Mugello," Lorenzo said. "I have a good race pace, the Bridgestone tyres feel good and I think I can make a fight tomorrow. We have to stay calm, focused and concentrated and hopefully it will be a good race for us here in Italy, at the home track for many of my team."

Also needing a top finish is Australian Casey Stoner, who has experienced an odd start to the early season and sits 13th in the points hunt. The Ducati rider definitely needs to pocket a win and starting third on the front row could give him a chance to take the lead in the first turn and hold on to take the victory, but this season has not been cut and dry for anyone and the on-track battles have been fierce.

With a time of 1:49.432, Stoner was off the pace of Pedrosa by 0.613 seconds. "To start from front row is always a positive thing but even if I'd love to say this lap time shows we're ready to race tomorrow, we're far from it. To be competitive with Jorge and Dani and to run with them consistently we're going to have to find six tenths at least," he said.

"Qualifying doesn't really reflect our race pace -- it was a bit of a banzai lap to be honest! Having said that we've got to be happy with a front row start and if we can find something tomorrow in warm-up we're in a good position," Stoner added.

Nicky Hayden heads up the second row with his best lap of 1:49.546, just one-tenth of a second off his Ducati teammate. The American came into his own last season when he picked up his racing

skills on the Ducati and currently his fifth in the standings. He slots fourth for Sunday's race standing start.

Another American who is off to a good year for the Yamaha Tech 3 team slots fifth on the grid. Colin Edwards best of 1:49.683 was over eight-tenths slower than the pole winner but just 0.137 seconds off the pace of Hayden.

Sixth on the grid is LCR Honda's Randy de Puniet. The Frenchman laid down a 1:49.737, just missing the middle of row two by 0.054 seconds. He also has had a good start to the season coming into the fourth round and sits sixth in the points.

Ben Spies is still on his learning curve in the series, after having won the World Superbike title in his rookie year, Yamaha decided to move the American to the MotoGP series with the Tech 3 team. Spies had a good qualifying run and slots seventh with a time of 1:49.861.

Second in the standings, Andrea Dovizioso will start in the middle of the third row with the eighth fastest qualifying time of 1:50.065 for his home race. The Italian was 1.2 seconds off the pace of his Repsol Honda teammate, who has the pole.

Aleix Espargaro rode his Pramac Racing Team Ducati to the ninth fastest time. The Spaniard turned his best lap at 1:50.168.

Sunday's race, however, will not be the same without the champion of champions who is known as "The Doctor" for his skills of keeping others behind him with his remarkable moves and his technique of overtaking others with determination, even at places others would not dare to attempt.

Pedrosa sent his well wishes to Rossi, saying what many of the MotoGP competitors feel: "All of us riders know how you feel when you are hurt, and I just hope that the operation goes well for him because the first operation is always the most important."

Now the door for this year's championship has opened further for those who want to earn the crown.

Stay tune for tomorrow's outcome as Stoner can make up lost ground, Pedrosa can add more points to his tally or Lorenzo can stretch his lead in the title chase even further. Then again, in this year's contest, a new race winner could emerge.