CURRENT championship leader Jorge Lorenzo of Spain, bidding to retain his 250cc world title here, got his campaign off on the right note by taking provisional pole at the Sepang Circuit yesterday.
Lorenzo, astride an Aprilia, clocked 2:08.876 to knock Honda rider Andrea Dovizioso of Italy off the top spot in the late stages of the qualifying practice session.
Dovizioso was second fastest in 2:08.968 while Alvaro Bautista of Spain came in third fastest in 2:09.155. Thomas Luthi of Switzerland took the last front row position, clocking 2:09.387.
The 20-year-old Lorenzo needs only to finish 11th or better to retain his title on Sunday.
Following his ninth victory of the season in the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island last Sunday, he needs just five more points to clinch his second world title before moving into MotoGP next season with Yamaha.
Lorenzo, on 287 points, has a 45-point advantage over Italian Dovizioso.
Lorenzo is looking forward to sealing the world title in Sepang.
“The title is now that bit closer. Hopefully, I can finish the job in Malaysia, although I am not thinking too much about that. I just want to give everything I can like I did at Phillip Island,” said Lorenzo, who won eight races en route to winning the world title last year.
“The team have worked brilliantly. Hopefully, I can reward them for the great job they have done all season.”
Dovizioso, the only rider mathematically capable of denying the Spaniard a second world title, believes there is still a glimmer of hope that the title could yet be his.
“Every point won in the last two races will be crucial for us. We will keep on fighting in the remaining races,” he said.
The riders in the 125cc class, which got under way earlier in the day, had it tougher.
A brief shower at noon resulted in a slippery track, forcing most riders to reduce the number of practice laps.
Aprilia’s Pablo Nieto of Spain was fastest in 2:23.886.
Mattia Pasini (2:26.592) of Italy was second fastest followed by Lukas Pesek (2:26.773) of the Czech Republic. Current championship leader Gabor Talmacsi was fourth fastest in 2:26.841.
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