With San Marino officially the third smallest country by territory size, the San Marino GP does not actually take place within the soverign’s borders. Instead, MotoGP action comes to you this weekend from the coastal Italian track of Misano, where a slew of MotoGP riders are looking for redemption from their performances at Indianapolis.
The track temperatures have been scortching hot all week, and even with a coastal breeze blowing through the course today, the ambient temperature was still over 98° F. With only 25 points now separating Jorge Lorenzo from Valentino Rossi, all eyes are on the Fiat-Yamaha pair to see who will take the MotoGP Championship.
Qualifying saw the usual suspects taking the top three spots. Valentino Rossi, who has been leading the charge all week, just barely held onto his pole position time, as Dani Pedrosa set some flying laps in the latter half of the qualifying session.
While unable to catch Rossi and make the time stick, Pedrosa planted himself between the Fiat-Yamaha riders, forcing Jorge Lorenzo to start from the third position. Lorenzo has started from the front-row on every GP this season thus far.
Nicky Hayden seems to be building off his podium finish from Indianapolis, as he will start from the 6th position. Toni Elias will lead the second row in the 4th position, with Colin Edwards sandwiched between the two, in 5th.
Results from Qualifying at the San Marino GP at Misano, Italy:
| Pos | No. | Rider | Bike | Time | Diff | Diff. to Prev. |
| 1 | 46 | Valentino ROSSI | YAMAHA | 1’34.338 | ||
| 2 | 3 | Dani PEDROSA | HONDA | 1’34.560 | 0.222 | 0.222 |
| 3 | 99 | Jorge LORENZO | YAMAHA | 1’34.808 | 0.470 | 0.248 |
| 4 | 24 | Toni ELIAS | HONDA | 1’34.907 | 0.569 | 0.099 |
| 5 | 5 | Colin EDWARDS | YAMAHA | 1’35.184 | 0.846 | 0.277 |
| 6 | 69 | Nicky HAYDEN | DUCATI | 1’35.223 | 0.885 | 0.039 |
| 7 | 15 | Alex DE ANGELIS | HONDA | 1’35.343 | 1.005 | 0.120 |
| 8 | 4 | Andrea DOVIZIOSO | HONDA | 1’35.492 | 1.154 | 0.149 |
| 9 | 14 | Randy DE PUNIET | HONDA | 1’35.554 | 1.216 | 0.062 |
| 10 | 65 | Loris CAPIROSSI | SUZUKI | 1’35.561 | 1.223 | 0.007 |
| 11 | 36 | Mika KALLIO | DUCATI | 1’35.601 | 1.263 | 0.040 |
| 12 | 33 | Marco MELANDRI | KAWASAKI | 1’35.785 | 1.447 | 0.184 |
| 13 | 7 | Chris VERMEULEN | SUZUKI | 1’35.790 | 1.452 | 0.005 |
| 14 | 52 | James TOSELAND | YAMAHA | 1’36.070 | 1.732 | 0.280 |
| 15 | 44 | Aleix ESPARGARO | DUCATI | 1’36.228 | 1.890 | 0.158 |
| 16 | 88 | Niccolo CANEPA | DUCATI | 1’36.264 | 1.926 | 0.036 |
| 17 | 41 | Gabor TALMACSI | HONDA | 1’37.091 | 2.753 | 0.827 |
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