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Pole Position Awards - Indianapolis

30.08.2010

THE GOVERNOR AWARDS BEN SPIES HIS FIRST POLE SETTING WATCH


American Ben Spies lightening progress in his Rookie MotoGP season continued when the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider took his very first MotoGP pole position in front of his patriotic home crowd at the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix. Just two weeks ago the Texan secured his first front row start and he went one better in the sweltering conditions round the 4.216 kms circuit, situated inside the world famous Indy oval. To make the occasion even more special Spies received his Tissot T-Touch Expert watch from Mitchell E Daniels, the Governor of Indiana.

 

Joining him on the front row will be Championship leader Jorge Lorenzo and another American Nicky Hayden who has finished on the podium at the last two Indianapolis Grands Prix. The bumpy track and hot conditions caused plenty of problems with World Champion Valentino Rossi crashing both in the morning practice and qualifying. The Italian finally qualified in seventh place and will start from the third row of the grid for the 28 lap race.

 

The current 125 cc World Champion Julian Simon grabbed his first Moto2 pole position in a typical crowded frantic qualifying session. Julian found a little bit of empty track in the last five minutes to take pole and the Tissot T-Race watch for his considerable efforts in the heat. Simon is joined on the front row by team-mate Hector Faubel and Scott Redding and Italian Simone Corsi.

 

Normal service was resumed in the 125 cc with Championship leader 17 year old Marc Marquez securing his seventh pole position of the season. He was still in discomfort from the dislocated shoulder he sustained in Brno two weeks ago but fought off the challenge of Nico Terol, Bradley Smith and Sandro Cortese to receive his seventh Tissot T-Tracx watch of the season. Last year's winner and second placed in the Championship Pol Espargaro crashed in the early stages of the session and finally qualified in fifth place.

 

Fast Facts

Ben Spies starts from pole for the first time in his MotoGP career

He is the first Rookie to qualify on pole since Lorenzo did so in 2008Spies is the first non-factory rider and also the first American rider to start from pole in MotoGP since Colin Edwards at the Chinese Grand Prix in 2008

 

Julian Simon first pole position in the Moto 2 class

It is the eighth pole position of his careerAll this other pole positions have come in the 125 cc class

 

Marc Marquez - This is the ninth pole position of his career

He has secured seven of those poles this season He has won four races from pole this season