The 2013 MotoGP season starts in Qatar on Sunday night, with defending champion and Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo on pole position. The Spaniard came up with a stunning late lap in qualifying to deny British No 1 and Tech 3 rider Cal Crutchlow his maiden MotoGP pole.

Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo
Reuters

Where to Watch Live

The race starts at 8pm BST, with BBC Two and BBC Two HD providing live coverage in the UK.

Track Facts

  • Circuit name: Losail International Circuit
  • First race: 2004
  • Most wins (rider): Casey Stoner (5)
  • Most wins (manufacturer): Aprilia (12)

Overview

Crutchlow took the lead in the QP2 session (part of MotoGP's new qualifying regulations) with the Brit's 1:54.916 the fastest Losail has witnessed so far weekend. However, world champion Lorenzo bounced back and produced a 1:54.714 with just two minutes remaining, to beat Crutchlow by 0.202s.

Tech 3's Cal Crutchlow
Reuters

Honda rider Dani Pedrosa finished third with an impressive final lap, clocking 1:55.151, while his team mate and fellow Spaniard Marc Marquez was sixth with a time of 1:55.645. Neither Pedrosa nor Marquez seemed to be challenging for the front row and the pair only narrowly missed causing an accident.

Ducati debutant Andrea Dovizioso qualified fourth with a time 1:55.160 and Stefan Bradl of Team LCR finished fifth, posting1:55.477. Yamaha returnee and nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi was seventh; the Italian clocked 1:55.711.

Qatar MotoGP QP2 Classification

Pos. Rider Team Km/h Time

1 Jorge Lorenzo [SPA] Yamaha Factory Racing 335.9 1'54.714

2 Cal Crutchlow [GBR] Monster Yamaha Tech 3 334.7 1'54.916

3 Dani Pedrosa [SPA] Repsol Honda Team 339.8 1'55.151

4 Andrea Dovizioso [ITA] Ducati Team 336.4 1'55.160

5 Stefan Bradl [GER] LCR Honda MotoGP 340.0 1'55.477

6 Marc Marquez [SPA] Repsol Honda Team 339.0 1'55.645

7 Valentino Rossi [ITA] Yamaha Factory Racing 337.7 1'55.711

8 Alvaro Bautista[SPA] GO&FUN Honda Gresini 338.5 1'55.870

9 Bradley Smith [GBR] Monster Yamaha Tech 3 333.9 1'56.315

10 Andrea Iannone [ITA] Energy T.I. Pramac Racing 339.8 1'56.523

11 Nicky Hayden [USA] Ducati Team 337.9 1'56.667

12 Aleix Espargaro [SPA] Power Electronics Aspar 318.8 1'57.064