Simoncelli aiming for solid points from second on the grid

> Team San Carlo Honda Gresini rider, Marco Simoncelli came within a hair's breadth of his first pole position in MotoGP after mounting the strongest challenge to the dominant Casey Stoner. Hiroshi Aoyama was 13th.

The Italian, following the disappointment of crashes at Jerez and Estoril in the last two rounds, is keen to pick up solid points in Sunday’s Monster Energy Grand Prix de France. Simoncelli managed to split the Repsol Honda’s and will start from the middle of the front row, ahead of Andrea Dovizioso and Dani Pedrosa. Aoyama struggled to make significant improvements on his free practice pace, when switching to a soft tyre in this afternoon's qualifying session and the Japanese rider will start from thirteenth on the grid tomorrow.
Marco Simoncelli, San Carlo Honda Gresini Team