Repsol Honda Team’s Dani Pedrosa has pipped Casey Stoner for pole position in an action-packed qualifying session at the Monster Energy Grand Prix de France in Le Mans.
The session started in wet conditions before drying out, with Pedrosa setting his fastest lap with only minutes remaining.
Pedrosa’s top spot is his fourth pole at the famous French circuit.
Stoner had one final crack at beating Pedrosa, but could not lap faster than his Spanish team-mate.
Completing the front row is Monster Yamaha Tech 3’s Andrea Dovizioso, who achieved his best grid position of the season.
Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jorge Lorenzo heads the second row after being held up in traffic on his final hot lap.
Behind him is Dovizioso’s team-mate Cal Crutchlow, who had been the early pace setter in the session, yet couldn’t match the Italian’s pace.
Sixth place is Ben Spies, ahead of Valentino Rossi who recorded his best grid position of 2012.
San Carlo Honda Gresini’s Álvaro Bautista crashed out in the last minute of qualifying but will start eighth ahead of. Pramac Racing Team’s Héctor Barberá and satellite Ducati rider Karel Abraham.
MotoGP returnee Chris Vermeulen will start from last place.
Qualifying, Le Mans
| Pos. | Num. | Rider | Nation | Team | Bike | Km/h | Time | Gap 1st/Prev. |
| 1 | 26 | Dani PEDROSA | SPA | Repsol Honda Team | Honda | 303.7 | 1’33.638 | |
| 2 | 1 | Casey STONER | AUS | Repsol Honda Team | Honda | 306.0 | 1’33.941 | 0.303 / 0.303 |
| 3 | 4 | Andrea DOVIZIOSO | ITA | Monster Yamaha Tech 3 | Yamaha | 304.0 | 1’33.976 | 0.338 / 0.035 |
| 4 | 99 | Jorge LORENZO | SPA | Yamaha Factory Racing | Yamaha | 300.8 | 1’34.104 | 0.466 / 0.128 |
| 5 | 35 | Cal CRUTCHLOW | GBR | Monster Yamaha Tech 3 | Yamaha | 302.4 | 1’34.178 | 0.540 / 0.074 |
| 6 | 11 | Ben SPIES | USA | Yamaha Factory Racing | Yamaha | 299.0 | 1’34.669 | 1.031 / 0.491 |
| 7 | 46 | Valentino ROSSI | ITA | Ducati Team | Ducati | 298.5 | 1’34.907 | 1.269 / 0.238 |
| 8 | 19 | Alvaro BAUTISTA | SPA | San Carlo Honda Gresini | Honda | 300.4 | 1’34.922 | 1.284 / 0.015 |
| 9 | 8 | Hector BARBERA | SPA | Pramac Racing Team | Ducati | 305.1 | 1’34.950 | 1.312 / 0.028 |
| 10 | 17 | Karel ABRAHAM | CZE | Cardion AB Motoracing | Ducati | 301.8 | 1’35.250 | 1.612 / 0.300 |
| 11 | 69 | Nicky HAYDEN | USA | Ducati Team | Ducati | 298.5 | 1’35.291 | 1.653 / 0.041 |
| 12 | 14 | Randy DE PUNIET | FRA | Power Electronics Aspar | ART | 286.5 | 1’35.694 | 2.056 / 0.403 |
| 13 | 6 | Stefan BRADL | GER | LCR Honda MotoGP | Honda | 300.7 | 1’35.862 | 2.224 / 0.168 |
| 14 | 51 | Michele PIRRO | ITA | San Carlo Honda Gresini | FTR | 283.7 | 1’36.646 | 3.008 / 0.784 |
| 15 | 68 | Yonny HERNANDEZ | COL | Avintia Blusens | BQR | 283.6 | 1’37.202 | 3.564 / 0.556 |
| 16 | 77 | James ELLISON | GBR | Paul Bird Motorsport | ART | 279.2 | 1’37.666 | 4.028 / 0.464 |
| 17 | 41 | Aleix ESPARGARO | SPA | Power Electronics Aspar | ART | 281.3 | 1’37.760 | 4.122 / 0.094 |
| 18 | 9 | Danilo PETRUCCI | ITA | Came IodaRacing Project | Ioda | 269.5 | 1’37.767 | 4.129 / 0.007 |
| 19 | 22 | Ivan SILVA | SPA | Avintia Blusens | BQR | 282.0 | 1’38.198 | 4.560 / 0.431 |
| 20 | 54 | Mattia PASINI | ITA | Speed Master | ART | 279.3 | 1’38.511 | 4.873 / 0.313 |
| 21 | 7 | Chris VERMEULEN | AUS | NGM Mobile Forward Racing | Suter | 281.8 | 1’38.658 | 5.020 / 0.147 |
