Repsol Honda's Spanish rider Dani Pedrosa secured his second pole position of the season in the qualifying for the Catalan motorcycle Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya, ahead of Ducati's riders Jorge Lorenzo of Spain and Danilo Petrucci of Italy.
Spain's Marc Marquez, who also rides Repsol Honda and had dominated almost all of the free practice, ended up on the ground twice during the second qualifying session and walked back to his garage, reports Efe.
Nevertheless, Marquez claimed the fourth fastest time and was followed in fifth place by compatriot Aleix Espargaro, who rides Aprilia.
The increase in temperature did not make things easy for the riders and there were some notable falls among them.
The Spaniards of Repsol Honda, Marquez and Pedrosa, as well as Alvaro Bautista (Ducati) and Britain's Bradley Smith (KTM RC 16), all suffered harsh falls during practice.
Smith had to be transferred to a hospital in Barcelona to undergo surgery after a fall injured his hand.
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"On route to hospital to clean the finger up.... then at 8am tomorrow i have my review. See you on the grid... in leathers i hope," the Briton tweeted.
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