Crutchlow takes first pole, Lorenzo suspense

Briton Cal Crutchlow sprang a surprise at Assen today, as the Yamaha rider finishing fastest in final qualifying for Saturday’s Dutch MotoGP to secure his first-ever pole.

He is joined on the front row by Honda duo Marc Marquez and Stefan Bradl for this seventh leg of the championship, which is being staged without reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo.

The Spaniard crashed at high speed in rain-hit practice on Thursday, fracturing his left collarbone.

The Yamaha star underwent surgery successfully in Barcelona early Friday, and is flying back to Assen later today.

Lorenzo’s surprise return to the circuit inevitably sparked rumours that he might try to compete in the race after all, mindful of the narrow seven-point gap between him and championship leader Dani Pedrosa.

Even though he skipped qualifying Lorenzo’s best time in practice before his accident would allow him to start in 12th place on the grid.

But the rider’s team manager Wilco Zeelenberg told Eurosport that the possibility of seeing Lorenzao make a remarkable comeback was “very limited”.

Michele Zasa, the doctor who carried out the surgery, told Yamaha: “The operation, made difficult because of the complexity of the fracture, lasted two hours (from 0200 to 0400 local time), during which time we inserted a titanium plate and eight screws to fix together parts of the collarbone.”

If he were to compete, Lorenzo would first have to satisfy medical officials in Assen before lining up on a grid headed by Crutchlow, who was thrilled with his speed in qualifying.

“I’m really satisfied at this first pole. I’ve already been close to it twice this season, all the work has paid off in the end,” said the 28-year-old rider.

Lorenzo’s teammate Valentino Rossi set the fourth-quickest time in qualifying to set off from the second row, alongside Pedrosa and Briton Bradley Smith.