---
title: "Lorenzo brands Valencia pole lap as ‘inspired’"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2016/11/12/lorenzo-brands-valencia-pole-lap-inspired/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Lewis Duncan"
section: "MotoGP News"
published: "2016-11-12T16:43:53Z"
modified: "2016-11-12T16:44:11Z"
---

# Lorenzo brands Valencia pole lap as ‘inspired’

Movistar Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo ends his time at the Japanese manufacturer the way he started it, securing pole position after a scintillating performance in qualifying.

The Spaniard has been on top form all weekend at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit as he gears up for his final Yamaha appearance as well as his 250th Grand Prix. Lorenzo came into today as the man to beat after topping both free practice sessions yesterday with a 1m30.463s.

As times hotted up in the final minutes of the third free practice this morning, it was almost a guarantee that we would see the lap record broken in qualifying. However, no-one expected it to go right at the beginning of QP2 nor in such supreme fashion.

> Twitter: How to demolish a lap record ![](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/2/svg/1f4a5.svg)![](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/2/svg/1f44a.svg)
>
> \#JL99’s #ValenciaGP @TISSOT Pole Lap!\
> ![](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/2/svg/1f3a5.svg) https://t.co/c0exkmrEeL https://t.co/jrW4CzK2G7 (@MotoGP)

Lorenzo wasted no time when qualifying got underway and posted an incredible 1m29.849s to go top of the pile, smashing the lap record in the process. Not content, he boxed for a fresh rear slick and improved to a 1m29.613s, going even quicker on his final lap with a 1m29.401s. Going over three tenths of a second clear of the field, Lorenzo’s 65th career pole and his 39th in Yamaha colours was secure.

Dominant over one lap, Lorenzo’s race pace also looks ominous. In FP4, the Spaniard put in a long run of consistent low 1m31s laps, mimicking what he managed earlier in the day in FP3. Though wary of the difficulty facing him for tomorrow’s 30-lap Grand Prix, the Spaniard must surely be favourite for victory?

“My motivation was full on, because I wanted to get the best challenge for pole position, but tomorrow is going to be the most important because that decides the victory, which for sure will be very hard to get it,” said the Spaniard, who’ll join Ducati in 2017 after spending nine years in the premier class with Yamaha.

“At least I can say that in the last race with Yamaha I got pole position and I think that today I was inspired. This 1‘29.8s I already expected and I did it, but not only that, I improved the lap time without a new tyre. I did everything I could and risked in braking. It was a great day and an inspiring moment and I‘m very proud and very happy.”