Stoner bagged front spot at the end of the qualifying session

Reigning world champion Casey Stoner will start Sunday's Catalunya MotoGP on pole position after a late surge in qualifying on Saturday.

Dani Pedrosa finished behind Stoner in second, with 2006 world champion Nicky Hayden claiming a surprise third place.

James Toseland was sixth, sharing row two with Colin Edwards and Randy De Puniet, with Valentino Rossi in ninth.

"I came over the finish expecting to be on the front row but I was on pole so that was nice," said Stoner.

Pedrosa was also happy with his second-place finish as he had to abandon his bike and return to the pits mid-way through a lap because of electrical problems.

"When I got back on track, it took me a while to find my rhythm again and ride some fast laps," he said.

"Starting from the front row is an excellent result from a complicated session and I'm very happy because it's important to start from the front row at my home race."

Rossi admitted his worst qualifying display of the season had been a huge disappointment.

"We've tried to improve the setting but we haven't been able to fix our problems, the main one of which is that we are not fast enough on the entry to the corners," he said.

"Now we need to work all afternoon to try to find a solution and then see what we can do tomorrow."

1 C Stoner (Aus) Ducati 1:41.186secs
2 D Pedrosa (Spn) Honda 1:41.269
3 N Hayden (US) Honda 1:41.437
4 R de Puniet (Fr) Honda 1:41.571
5 C Edwards (US) Yamaha 1:41.609
6 J Toseland (GB) Yamaha 1:41.820
7 A Dovizioso (Ita) Honda 1:42.053
8 C Vermeulen (Aus) Suzuki 1:42.365
9 V Rossi (Ita) Yamaha 1:42.427
10 A de Angelis (SM) Honda 1:42.580