Edwards takes QP1

Colin Edwards has taken provisional pole position after topping the first qualifying session at the Assen GP.

Edwards finished the session almost a second faster than the top time from Thursday and 0.2 seconds ahead of second fastest rider Nicky Hayden.

Kawasaki rider Randy de Puniet put in a storming lap to take third place on the provisional grid ahead of Casey Stoner and fellow Kawasaki rider Shinya Nakano.

Valentino Rossi only managed four laps and was 20 seconds off the pace after yesterday’s massive crash that saw him sent to hospital.

See the separate story, right, for the lowdown on Rossi.

Official times:

Colin EDWARDS 1’37.215

Nicky HAYDEN 1’37.405

Randy DE PUNIET 1’37.471

Casey STONER 1’37.661

Shinya NAKANO 1’37.953

Dani PEDROSA 1’37.977

Makoto TAMADA 1’37.993

John HOPKINS 1’38.124

Kenny ROBERTS 1’38.133

Chris VERMEULEN 1’38.279

Marco MELANDRI 1’38.331

Carlos CHECA 1’38.444

James ELLISON 1’38.466

Alex HOFMANN 1’38.811

Loris CAPIROSSI 1’39.385

Jose Luis CARDOSO 1’39.626

Ivan SILVA 1’40.107

Valentino ROSSI 1’58.614