MotoGP Indianapolis USA qualifying results—Spies on pole!

As much as he tries to downplay his rookie season achievements, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for Ben Spies to look like anything other than a future champion when he continues to impress with moments such as today, where the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha rider stole pole position for the Red Bull Indianapolis GP. The usual contenders—Fiat Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo, Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovisioso, and Ducati Marlboro’s Casey Stoner—were battling over the top spot, but Spies and fellow American Nicky Hayden were always in the mix. With 20 minutes left in the session, Spies put in a hot lap to grab the top spot but it was short-lived, as Lorenzo and then Stoner’s teammate Nicky Hayden suddenly vaulted to the top spot with about seven minutes to go. Spies went back out with five minutes left and uncorked a scorching 1:40.105 lap time that was over two-tenths quicker than Hayden’s best with about two minutes remaining. Lorenzo, Dovisioso, Stoner, and Hayden all took a shot at the Texan’s time as time wound down, but all came up short. Nonetheless, Hayden’s third place qualifying position makes it two Americans on the front row at Indy.