Edwards lies is 10th place in the overall standings

American Colin Edwards seized pole position from Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi in the final seconds of qualifying at the British Grand Prix.

The Texan, still seeking his first win in MotoGP, lapped the dry Donington circuit in one minute 28.531 seconds to beat Italian Rossi by 0.146.

Spaniard Dani Pedrosa completed the front row, with Honda team-mate and world champion Nicky Hayden in fourth.

Championship leader Casey Stoner was fifth on his Ducati.

Taking pole is not an obvious precursor to success on Sunday for Edwards, who lies 10th in the overall standings.

No rider has won from the top slot so far this season, with three of Stoner's four wins coming from fourth place.

Edwards was 12th after starting on pole in France last month.

The 16-year-old had been running second fastest to Mattia Pasini, who went on to claim pole position, in Saturday's final qualifying session.

But in the closing minute of the session, the rear wheel of his Respol Honda machine lost grip and then violently regained traction to high-side Smith over onto the bitumen and then into the gravel trap at Coppice corner.

"I came down quite hard in the crash and hurt the outside of my right foot but I am okay - no broken bones or anything," Smith said.

"I was having problems at Coppice anyway with the front of the bike closing across the line and I can only think I ran a little wide, lost grip and then found it again but too quickly for me to do anything about it."

Smith was eventually confirmed as ninth fastest in qualifiying.

"I am disappointed with my position on the third row, but I have started there before and come through it," he added.