Estoril MotoGP: Stoner takes first pole of 2012

Repsol Honda rider Casey Stoner has taken his first pole position of the 2012 season at Estoril today, beating team-mate and title rival Dani Pedrosa.

Tech 3 rider Cal Crutchlow continues his impressive start to the 2012 campaign with third place on the grid, completing the front row.

The second row comprises Factory Yamaha riders Jorge Lorenzo and Ben spies with Alvaro Bautista sixth.

Valentino Rossi qualified ninth ahead of factory Ducati team-mate Nicky Hayden in 10th.

Aleix Espargaro is the top placed CRT rider in 12th. Brit James Ellison qualified 19th, less than five seconds behind Stoner.

The session was ended early after Randy de Puniet crashed, taking out Colin Edwards who suffered a broken collarbone.

1 1 Casey STONER AUS Repsol Honda Team Honda  1’37.188 
2 26 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda  1’37.201 0.013 / 0.013
3 35 Cal CRUTCHLOW GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha  1’37.289 0.101 / 0.088
4 99 Jorge LORENZO SPA Yamaha Factory Racing Yamaha  1’37.466 0.278 / 0.177
5 11 Ben SPIES USA Yamaha Factory Racing Yamaha  1’37.723 0.535 / 0.257
6 19 Alvaro BAUTISTA SPA San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda  1’37.917 0.729 / 0.194
7 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha  1’37.943 0.755 / 0.026
8 8 Hector BARBERA SPA Pramac Racing Team Ducati  1’38.006 0.818 / 0.063
9 46 Valentino ROSSI ITA Ducati Team Ducati  1’38.059 0.871 / 0.053
10 69 Nicky HAYDEN USA Ducati Team Ducati  1’38.253 1.065 / 0.194
11 6 Stefan BRADL GER LCR Honda MotoGP Honda  1’38.265 1.077 / 0.012
12 41 Aleix ESPARGARO SPA Power Electronics Aspar ART  1’39.353 2.165 / 1.088
13 17 Karel ABRAHAM CZE Cardion AB Motoracing Ducati  1’39.398 2.210 / 0.045
14 14 Randy DE PUNIET FRA Power Electronics Aspar ART  1’39.586 2.398 / 0.188
15 68 Yonny HERNANDEZ COL Avintia Blusens BQR  1’40.029 2.841 / 0.443
16 51 Michele PIRRO ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini FTR  1’40.225 3.037 / 0.196
17 54 Mattia PASINI ITA Speed Master ART  1’40.387 3.199 / 0.162
18 5 Colin EDWARDS USA NGM Mobile Forward Racing Suter  1’40.964 3.776 / 0.577
19 77 James ELLISON GBR Paul Bird Motorsport ART  1’41.394 4.206 / 0.430
20 9 Danilo PETRUCCI ITA Came IodaRacing Project Ioda  1’41.486 4.298 / 0.092
21 22 Ivan SILVA SPA Avintia Blusens BQR  1’41.490 4.302 / 0.004