Catalunya MotoGP: Casey Stoner takes first pole of season

World champion Casey Stoner has come back to form in Catalunya to take pole position for the MotoGP with a time of 1:41:186.

Spaniard Dani Pedrosa, who was fastest in free practice yesterday has qualified in second position for his home MotoGP. Dani Pedrosa had a problem part way through the session when his Repsol Honda had a mechanical failure and he was forced to go into the pits.

Repsol Honda rider and ex-world champion Nicky Hayden has found good from again after a disappointing start to the season as he qualified third behind team-mate Pedrosa.

World championship leader Valentino Rossi struggled with qualifying and only managed to qualify in ninth position.

British rider James Toseland continued his good form and qualified in sixth position, less than a second behind pole position man Casey Stoner. Toseland’s Tech 3 Yamaha team-mate Colin Edwards qualified ahead of James Toseland in fifth position.

Factory Ducati rider Marco Melandri crashed in the sying seconds of the qualifying session, which dashed his hopes on moving up from 16th position on the grid.

 1  C. STONER  AUS  Ducati Marlboro Team  1’41.186
2  D. PEDROSA  SPA  Repsol Honda Team  + 0.083
3  N. HAYDEN  USA  Repsol Honda Team  + 0.251
4  R. DE PUNIET  FRA  LCR Honda MotoGP  + 0.385
5  C. EDWARDS  USA  Tech 3 Yamaha  + 0.423
6  J. TOSELAND  GBR  Tech 3 Yamaha  + 0.634
7  A. DOVIZIOSO  ITA  JiR Team Scot MotoGP  + 0.867
8  C. VERMEULEN  AUS  Rizla Suzuki MotoGP  + 1.179
9  V. ROSSI  ITA  Fiat Yamaha Team  + 1.241
10  A. DE ANGELIS  RSM  San Carlo Honda Gresini  + 1.394
11  S. NAKANO  JPN  San Carlo Honda Gresini  + 1.457
12  L. CAPIROSSI  ITA  Rizla Suzuki MotoGP  + 1.462
13  T. ELIAS  SPA  Alice Team  + 1.622
14  J. HOPKINS  USA  Kawasaki Racing Team  + 1.633
15  S. GUINTOLI  FRA  Alice Team  + 2.018
16  M. MELANDRI  ITA  Ducati Marlboro Team  + 2.533
17  A. WEST  AUS  Kawasaki Racing Team