Britain's Bradley Smith made history in the 125cc class because as well as being the dominant rider at every practice session in Losail this week, he continued his sparkling form to take his first World Championship pole, courtesy of a 2’05.242 hot lap - thus becoming the first British rider to qualify in first position in the single-cylinder category in over three decades.
Smith, who makes his race debut with Polaris World Aprilia this weekend, was relatively unscathed by a late crash at the end of the session and will be joined on the front row by World Champion Gabor Talmacsi (Bancaja Aspar), Mike di Meglio (Ajo Motorsport) and Blusens Aprilia’s British rookie Scott Redding.
Meanwhile Smith and Redding's compatriot Danny Webb qualified in fifth, to make it three Englishmen in the top five. Redding in turn becomes the youngest ever rider to start a race from the front row of the grid.
Smith said: "Pole position is great but you get no world championship points for it. I get a beautiful watch but the race tomorrow is where it counts because that's where the world championship points are awarded. Everything has gone so well in testing and we are confident of a good result but as always it will not be easy."
2 1 G.TALMACSI HUN Bancaja Aspar Team APRILIA 2'06.262 10 2'05.308 4 0.066 0.066 -0.954
3 63 M.DI MEGLIO FRA Ajo Motorsport DERBI 2'05.790 10 2'05.351 4 0.109 0.043 -0.439
4 45 S.REDDING GBR Blusens Aprilia Junior APRILIA 2'06.810 7 2'05.545 10 0.303 0.194 -1.265
5 99 D.WEBB GBR Degraaf Grand Prix APRILIA 2'05.593 10 2'06.626 8 0.351 0.048 1.033
6 35 R.DE ROSA ITA Onde 2000 KTM KTM 2'06.209 6 2'05.618 6 0.376 0.025 -0.591
7 18 N.TEROL SPA Jack & Jones WRB APRILIA 2'06.613 12 2'05.833 13 0.591 0.215 -0.780
8 33 S.GADEA SPA Bancaja Aspar Team APRILIA 2'14.784 2 2'05.953 11 0.711 0.120 -8.831
9 6 J.OLIVE SPA Belson Derbi DERBI 2'07.442 12 2'06.074 12 0.832 0.121 -1.368
10 24 S.CORSI ITA Jack & Jones WRB APRILIA 2'06.096 10 2'07.096 10 0.854 0.022 1.000
11 12 E.RABAT SPA Repsol KTM 125cc KTM 2'06.896 11 2'06.132 12 0.890 0.036 -0.764
12 27 S.BIANCO ITA S3+ WTR San Marino Team APRILIA 2'06.702 12 2'06.205 10 0.963 0.073 -0.497
13 11 S.CORTESE GER Emmi - Caffe Latte APRILIA 2'06.218 9 2'07.549 2 0.976 0.013 1.331
14 51 S.BONSEY USA Degraaf Grand Prix APRILIA 2'07.161 4 2'06.329 11 1.087 0.111 -0.832
15 17 S.BRADL GER Grizzly Gas Kiefer Racing APRILIA 2'07.308 5 2'06.347 9 1.105 0.018 -0.961
16 22 P.NIETO SPA Onde 2000 KTM KTM 2'07.368 12 2'06.380 6 1.138 0.033 -0.988
17 29 A.IANNONE ITA I.C. Team APRILIA 2'06.922 10 2'06.388 10 1.146 0.008 -0.534
18 44 P.ESPARGARO SPA Belson Derbi DERBI 2'08.058 4 2'06.402 11 1.160 0.014 -1.656
19 7 E.VAZQUEZ SPA Blusens Aprilia Junior APRILIA 2'06.709 13 2'06.477 11 1.235 0.075 -0.232
20 77 D.AEGERTER SWI Ajo Motorsport DERBI 2'08.372 13 2'06.585 12 1.343 0.108 -1.787
21 71 T.KOYAMA JPN ISPA KTM Aran KTM 2'06.914 12 2'06.702 12 1.460 0.117 -0.212
22 60 M.RANSEDER AUT I.C. Team APRILIA 2'07.450 6 2'06.787 5 1.545 0.085 -0.663
23 73 T.NAKAGAMI JPN I.C. Team APRILIA 2'07.016 4 2'07.400 5 1.774 0.229 0.384
24 8 L.ZANETTI ITA ISPA KTM Aran KTM 2'07.338 10 2'09.711 2 2.096 0.322 2.373
25 34 R.KRUMMENACHE SWI Red Bull KTM 125 KTM 2'08.529 6 2'07.603 12 2.361 0.265 -0.926
26 30 P.TUTUSAUS SPA Bancaja Aspar Team APRILIA 2'08.667 8 2'07.605 12 2.363 0.002 -1.062
27 21 R.LASSER GER Grizzly Gas Kiefer Racing APRILIA 2'09.299 7 2'08.000 5 2.758 0.395 -1.299
28 5 A.MASBOU FRA Loncin Racing LONCIN 2'09.194 10 2'08.381 11 3.139 0.381 -0.813
29 56 H.VAN DEN BERG NED Degraaf Grand Prix APRILIA 2'08.502 10 2'08.969 12 3.260 0.121 0.467
30 16 J.CLUZEL FRA Loncin Racing LONCIN 2'08.769 12 2'09.413 8 3.527 0.267 0.644
31 95 R.MURESAN ROU Grizzly Gas Kiefer Racing APRILIA 2'10.169 7 2'09.257 9 4.015 0.488 -0.912
32 13 D.LOMBARDI ITA BQR Blusens APRILIA 2'11.791 9 2'09.632 12 4.390 0.375 -2.159
33 19 R.LACALENDOLA ITA Matteoni Racing APRILIA 2'10.388 7 2'09.827 8 4.585 0.195 -0.561
34 69 L.ROSSI FRA FFM Honda GP 125 HONDA 2'10.752 4 2'10.153 10 4.911 0.326 -0.599
