In the last few minutes of the Laguna Seca Moto GP qualifying there was drama, with not one but two title contenders having hard crashes.

Both Jorge Lorenzo and Casey Stoner were putting in good lap times for the whole session and were first and second, respectively, going into the final few minutes, with Valentino Rossi trailing in third.

Then in a dramatic last few laps, first Lorenzo high sided on cold tyres at turn ten, the same place he had crashed without injury earlier in the session, dislocating his right shoulder and damaging his right lower leg meaning he had to be stretchered off the track. Latest news is that the medical team will review his injuries today before a decision is taken whether to race or not.

Next, within less than a minute of Lorenzo’s crash, Stoner also high sided off the Ducati and landed heavily. He has a suspected torn groin which only adds to his woes as the Australian has not been fully fit since before Catalunya due to flu-like symptoms which have left him very weak.

Despite the crashes Lorenzo still took pole and Stoner took third, after a last lap surge by Rossi saw him take second position on the grid.

Dani Pedrosa has been unexpectedly strong all weekend, as he is another rider who has been suffering injuries of late, and took fourth position.

Andrea Dovizioso is on fifth position and says he is confident of riding with the top three, and Tony Elias sixth making a Honda second row.

Despite the Americans on the grid not doing as well in free practice as you might expect at their home Grand Prix, they certainly upped their game in qualifying, with Colin Edwards starting from seventh on the grid and Nicky Hayden having his best qualifying so far this season on eighth. Hopefully Nicky is starting to prove himself on the Ducati and we can see a return to form from the former champion.

Ninth on the grid is Chris Vermeulan who was putting in excellent laps in free practice at some points topping the leaderboard, but after a high side he was left battered and bruised going into qualifying which somewhat hampered his performance, however he was pleased with what he achieved and is confident of running at race pace.

Vermeulan’s teammate Loris Capirossi rounds out the top ten.

Britain’s James Toseland did not qualify so well and starts from 15th on the grid after struggling with set up he is said to be disappointed.

So, this Grand Prix could be a piece of cake for Rossi with his closest rivals riding injured, not if the Honda riders have anything to do with it!

Qualifying Positions:
Pos. Rider Nation Team Lap time
1 J. LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team 1’21.678
2 V. ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team + 0.167
3 C. STONER AUS Ducati Team + 0.232
4 D. PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team + 0.435
5 A. DOVIZIOSO ITA Repsol Honda Team + 0.457
6 T. ELIAS SPA San Carlo Honda Gresini + 0.468
7 C. EDWARDS USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 + 0.812
8 N. HAYDEN USA Ducati Team + 0.862
9 C. VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP + 0.955
10 L. CAPIROSSI ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP + 0.984
11 M. MELANDRI ITA Hayate Racing Team + 1.164
12 A. DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini + 1.326
13 S. GIBERNAU SPA Grupo Francisco Hernando + 1.428
14 R. DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP + 1.469
15 J. TOSELAND GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 + 1.712
16 N. CANEPA ITA Pramac Racing + 2.234
17 G. TALMACSI HUN Scot Racing Team MotoGP + 2.850