* Pedrosa ends Lorenzo's five-race streak on pole
* Spies slips in for second spot, Lorenzo third
* Rossi, set to announce future, starts fifth
(Adds quotes, details)
By Jason Hovet
BRNO, Czech Republic, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Spaniard Dani
Pedrosa denied MotoGP championship leader Jorge Lorenzo his
sixth straight pole by clocking the fastest lap in qualifying
for Sunday's Czech Grand Prix.
The 24-year-old Honda rider, who trails compatriot Lorenzo
by 72 points in the standings, secured his third pole position
this year with a best lap of one minute 56.508 seconds at the
5.4-km Brno circuit on Saturday.
American rookie Ben Spies will make his first-ever front row
start from the second spot after a best lap of one minute 56.846
seconds on his Yamaha.
Lorenzo, trying to become only the third rider in GP's
62-year history to finish in the top two in the first 10 races
of a season, crashed his Yamaha in the final qualifying laps.
The 23-year-old will aim for his seventh victory of the
season from third spot.
Teammate and MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi also
crashed in the final minutes and will start from fifth position.
He has one podium finish in two races back after a broken leg
kept him out for four races.
Pedrosa needed until his penultimate lap to better Spies's
time, marking his return to pole for the first time since
winning the Italian Grand Prix in June.
"I'm happy to be back on pole. It's been a long time now,"
said Pedrosa, who will go for a third victory this season after
also winning last month's German Grand Prix by edging Lorenzo.
The 26-year-old Spies, coming off a sixth place finish at
the last race in the United States three weeks ago, challenged
for the fastest qualifying lap with teammate and compatriot
Colin Edwards, who finished seventh in qualifying.
Spies, seventh in the standings, said he was feeling more
comfortable with his bike but expected a tough race as he goes
for his second podium finish.
"I didn't think we were in contention for the front row, let
alone pole position," he said.
"We made progress with the bike. We hope for some dry
weather and will ride as hard as we can, but it's going to be a
tough race tomorrow."
Weather forecasts call for a chance of showers on Sunday
following overnight storms before Saturday's qualification.
ROSSI FUTURE
The second row of Sunday's race will be filled out by
Australian Casey Stoner, fourth, on a Ducati and Pedrosa's Honda
teammate Andrea Dovizioso of Itay in sixth, along with Rossi.
Last year's Czech winner Rossi is set to announce who he
will race for in 2011 on Sunday. []
The 31-year-old Italian, holder of nine world titles across
all classes, is in the last year of his contract with Yamaha,
and Ducati have said they want to sign him.
His move to Ducati has been widely expected in motorsport
circles after he distanced himself from an immediate future in
Formula One or rallying.
(Editing by Tom Pilcher; To query or comment on this story
email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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