Indy MotoGP: Stoner takes pole position

Championship leader Casey Stoner has taken pole position ahead of tomorrow’s race at Indianapolis, smashing the previous pole position record, set by Dani Pedrosa in 2009, by just under one second.

Factory Yamaha rider Ben Spies will start from second on the grid, unable to repeat pole-setting performance from last year. Spies’ team-mate and current champion Jorge Lorenzo rounds out the first row in third.

Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa heads the second row in fourth place, ahead of Andrea Dovizioso and Tech 3 Yamaha rider Colin Edwards.

Valentino Rossi crashed midway through the session and was unable to battle for a place in the top half on the grid. Rossi will start from 14th on the grid.

Brit Cal Crutchlow will start from 11th on the grid after running in to the gravel late in the sesion.

1 27 Casey STONER AUS Repsol Honda Team Honda 323.5 1’38.850 
2 11 Ben SPIES USA Yamaha Factory Racing Yamaha 316.4 1’39.373 0.523 / 0.523
3 1 Jorge LORENZO SPA Yamaha Factory Racing Yamaha 316.3 1’39.629 0.779 / 0.256
4 26 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 320.0 1’39.947 1.097 / 0.318
5 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA Repsol Honda Team Honda 320.3 1’40.024 1.174 / 0.077
6 5 Colin EDWARDS USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 314.4 1’40.098 1.248 / 0.074
7 58 Marco SIMONCELLI ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 316.6 1’40.204 1.354 / 0.106
8 69 Nicky HAYDEN USA Ducati Team Ducati 322.5 1’40.244 1.394 / 0.040
9 19 Alvaro BAUTISTA SPA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 318.5 1’40.333 1.483 / 0.089
10 8 Hector BARBERA SPA Mapfre Aspar Team MotoGP Ducati 322.0 1’40.360 1.510 / 0.027
11 35 Cal CRUTCHLOW GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 314.8 1’40.620 1.770 / 0.260
12 14 Randy DE PUNIET FRA Pramac Racing Team Ducati 317.3 1’40.815 1.965 / 0.195
13 7 Hiroshi AOYAMA JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 319.8 1’40.925 2.075 / 0.110
14 46 Valentino ROSSI ITA Ducati Team Ducati 318.2 1’40.975 2.125 / 0.050
15 24 Toni ELIAS SPA LCR Honda MotoGP Honda 319.2 1’41.030 2.180 / 0.055
16 17 Karel ABRAHAM CZE Cardion AB Motoracing Ducati 317.5 1’41.085 2.235 / 0.055
17 65 Loris CAPIROSSI ITA Pramac Racing Team Ducati 316.0 1’41.092 2.242 / 0.007