(CNN) -- Marco Simoncelli hopes he has put his Le Mans nightmare behind him after earning the first pole position of his top-level motorcycling career in Spain on Saturday. 

The Italian rider was reprimanded by MotoGP chiefs following an incident in France two weeks ago that caused Dani Pedrosa to crash and miss his home race after breaking his collarbone. 

Simoncelli reportedly received death threats following that collision, which resulted in the 24-year-old finishing fifth after being hit with a ride-through penalty, having been denied his first podium placing. 

"This is the best way to forget what happened in Le Mans and what everyone has been saying in the last two weeks, and before this race," he said after qualifying first for Sunday's Catalunya Grand Prix near Barcelona. 

Pedrosa crash overshadows Stoner's French MotoGP success 

Simoncelli headed off Le Mans winner Casey Stoner and Yamaha's world champion and series leader Jorge Lorenzo as he set a late lap of one minute 42.413 seconds. 

Stoner had led for the entire session but was denied his fourth pole position from five attempts this season as he bids to cut Lorenzo's 12-point advantage. 

"I'm very satisfied and happy. I didn't expect it because Stoner was faster than me in the other sessions and today we had some problems in the first part of qualifying, but after we chose the right tire for me I could push like I wanted and got this time," Simoncelli said. 

American Ben Spies will lead the second row on the grid from Honda's Andrea Dovizioso and fellow Yamaha rider Cal Crutchlow, while seven-time world champion Valentino Rossi was seventh ahead of Ducati teammate Nicky Hayden of the U.S. 
Why was Marco Simoncelli punished?
What sort of incident?
Against whom?
Who punished him?
What other punishment did he receive?
What did he win on Saturday?
What allowed him to make his top time?
What was the time?
Who set better times than him earlier on?
Who's at the front of the next row?
What nationality is he?
What brand of motorcycle does he drive?
What made Dani Pedrosa's crash especially disappointing?
Who has won the world championship several times?
Who rides a Honda?
What track are the runs being described taking place at?
What city?
What track did the crash take place at?
Who's on top of the current series?
How much of a lead does he have?
racing incident in France
The Italian rider was reprimanded by MotoGP chiefs following an incident in France two weeks ago that caused Dani Pedrosa to crash and miss his home race after breaking his collarbone. 
caused a crash
that caused Dani Pedrosa to crash 
Dani Pedrosa
that caused Dani Pedrosa to crash 
MotoGP chiefs
he Italian rider was reprimanded by MotoGP chiefs
a ride-through penalty,
which resulted in the 24-year-old finishing fifth after being hit with a ride-through penalty, 
his first pole position
after earning the first pole position of his top-level motorcycling career in Spain on Saturday.
chose the right tire
but after we chose the right tire for me I could push like I wanted and got this time," Simoncelli said.
one minute 42.413 seconds.
a late lap of one minute 42.413 seconds.
Stoner
Stoner was faster than me in the other sessions 
Ben Spies
American Ben Spies will lead the second row
American
American Ben Spies 
Yamaha
American Ben Spies will lead the second row on the grid from Honda's Andrea Dovizioso and fellow Yamaha rider Cal Crutchlow, 
rwithout the penalty, Simoncelli would have won
resulted in the 24-year-old finishing fifth after being hit with a ride-through penalty, having been denied his first podium placing. 
Valentino Rossi
while seven-time world champion Valentino Rossi was seventh ahead of Ducati teammate Nicky Hayden of the U.S.
Andrea Dovizioso
Honda's Andrea Dovizioso
Catalunya Grand Prix
Catalunya Grand Prix near Barcelona. 
Barcelona
Catalunya Grand Prix near Barcelona
in Le Mans
in Le Mans 
Jorge Lorenzo
series leader Jorge Lorenzo 
2-point advantage.
Lorenzo's 12-point advantage. 