 Australian Stoner is the runaway championship leader |
World championship leader Casey Stoner took pole for Sunday's San Marino MotoGP at Misano after clocking the fastest lap at the very last minute. Valentino Rossi had looked on course for front spot, only for Stoner to clock a time 0.176 seconds faster and secure his fourth straight pole start.
Defending world champion Nicky Hayden took third place.
"I didn't expect to be on pole," said Stoner afterwards. "I thought I chose a qualifying tyre that was too hard."
Earlier in the day, Honda's Marco Melandri was taken for X-rays after injuring his pelvis as he crashed heavily in practice.
Melandri, who had been fastest in Friday's first practice before the session was washed out by torrential rain, ended up qualifying in 12th place.
San Marino MotoGP qualifying result:
1 C Stoner (Aus) Ducati 1 min 33.918 secs
2 V Rossi (Ita) Yamaha 1:34.094
3 N Hayden (US) Honda 1:34.469
4 R de Puniet (Fr) Kawasaki 1:34.506
5 J Hopkins (US) Suzuki 1:34.536
6 D Pedrosa (Sp) Honda 1:34.580
7 C Checa (Sp) Honda 1:34.628
8 C Vermeulen (Aus) Suzuki 1:34.717
9 C Edwards (US) Yamaha 1:34.768
10 A West (Aus) Kawasaki 1:34.939
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