Lorenzo takes pole in Spanish MotoGP

Spain's 2010 world champion Jorge Lorenzo recorded his 46th career pole position here on Saturday when he posted the fastest time in qualifying for the Spanish MotoGP. The Yamaha rider -- who won the season-opening Qatar MotoGP -- pipped compatriot Dani Pedrosa on a Honda while the 2006 world champion Nicky Hayden of the United States was third fastest on a Ducati. Lorenzo's tally of 46 pole positions includes 20 in MotoGP. Lorenzo and Pedrosa swapped fastest times throughout a thrilling duel on Saturday and were the only two riders to go under 1min 40sec and in doing so Lorenzo also bettered Pedrosa's fastest lap time set in 2010. While Hayden, who recorded his best win of last season here last year when he finished third, shone for the Ducati team his team-mate, Italian legend Valentino Rossi, failed to sparkle and will start 13th on the grid. Englishman Cal Crutchlow caught the eye as he recovered from a spectacular crash to record the fourth fastest time ahead of defending world champion Casey Stoner of Australia.