Lorenzo claims Malaysia pole

Champion-elect Jorge Lorenzo produced a late burst to claim pole position for the Malaysian MotoGP.

The Spaniard needs only a top-10 finish to guarantee the title with three races remaining after Malaysia, but the Yamaha rider appears intent on taking an eighth victory of the campaign rather than opting for a conservative approach.

The 23-year-old secured his sixth pole of the season with a best lap of two minutes 01.537 seconds to edge out Ducati's Nicky Hayden, who topped the timesheets with his 2:01.637 until Lorenzo went faster in the final minute of qualifying.

Italy's Andrea Dovizioso will complete the front row for Sunday's race after he crossed the line in 2:01.829 on his Honda.

The 23-year-old said: "For tomorrow it's going to be difficult. This moment is very important for my career and I pushed the maximum."

Hayden's second place was his best qualifying result of a difficult season, and the American described his performance as "a bit of a shock".

The second row will consist of American Ben Spies, in-form Australian Casey Stoner and outgoing world champion Valentino Rossi, rounding out a top six that are separated by less than half a second.

Loris Capirossi qualified in a gutsy ninth place for Suzuki. The Italian suffered a heavy fall in the morning practice session, and was stretchered off the track, but got back on the bike to lap just a tenth of a second slower than team-mate Alvaro Bautista.

After a mid-season injury scuppered Rossi's chances of a third consecutive title, Lorenzo was on course for a maiden crown before his task was made easier when nearest challenger Dani Pedrosa crashed out in practice for the last race in Japan.

Spaniard Pedrosa missed the Motegi race with a fractured collarbone and opted not to travel to Malaysia, leaving Lorenzo needing just seven points to take the title.

Stoner, winner of the last two races, is close enough to mount a challenge for second.

After 14 races, Lorenzo has 297 points, Pedrosa 228, Stoner 180 with Dovizioso in fourth place on 159. Rossi, who missed four races after breaking his leg in June, sits a further three points adrift in fifth place.

Yahoo Sports