Jorge Lorenzo aims for Le Mans podium from 6th on grid

Movistar Yamaha MotoGP rider Jorge Lorenzo will start tomorrow’s Monster Energy Grand Prix de France from the second row in sixth position.

An intense 15-minute qualifying session saw Jorge hold provisional positions on the front row as the lap times tumbled, only to be denied in the last moments. His final time on the second row was just a tenth of a second from second place.

Jorge Lorenzo started strongly in the Le Mans sunshine, first man out on track he immediately took the top spot with his first flying lap, a 1’33.188 to lead a Movistar Yamaha one/two on the timesheets.

Rival Marc Marquez then moved in, taking the top spot and relegating Lorenzo to second as the qualifying session began to heat up.

The Spaniard was able to drop under the 1’33s with a 1’32.964 before returning to the pits for a new soft rear. The last few minutes saw a second attack however Lorenzo was unable to reclaim pole, delivering a session best of 1’32.899 to take sixth on the grid next to his teammate for tomorrow’s race.

Jorge Lorenzo – 6th / 1’32.899 / 9 laps
“It’s been the opposite of Jerez, here we have good pace but we couldn’t make a very fast lap time. I didn’t make a perfect lap and just for one tenth I couldn’t be in second place. For the race we have more options than the last races so I’m going to try and finish on the podium. We have to pay attention in the first laps because everyone wants to overtake but I think we can keep our place and move up.”

Source: Yamaha Racing