Rossi clinches Indianapolis pole

Date: Sunday, 14 September Venue: Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Coverage: Live on the BBC via the red button (a re-run "as live" will also be shown on BBC Two at 2245 BST); lap-by-lap updates on BBC Sport website.

Rossi leads the championship standings by 75 points

Valentino Rossi secured pole position for Sunday's Indianapolis MotoGP after setting the fastest time in a fiercely- fought qualifying session on Saturday.

The championship leader came ahead of reigning world champion Casey Stoner for only his second pole of the season.

Spain's Jorge Lorenzo was third, with Americans Nicky Hayden and wild card Ben Spies finishing fourth and fifth.

Britain's James Toseland took 10th spot, just ahead of Tech 3 Yamaha team-mate Colin Edwards.

Rossi rocketed his Fiat Yamaha around the famed Brickyard, home of the Indy 500 which is hosting its first motorcycle race since 1909, in one minute 40.776 seconds.

His time denied Australian Stoner his eighth consecutive pole position.

"I'm so happy because of the pole position that will remain as part of history forever and also because it represents a small advantage for me," said the Italian.

There are places to pass, especially turn one and turn 10, and the grip of the new asphalt is much better in the dry

Valentino Rossi

"For me as well it's good after having taken just one pole position this year until now. We did a good job and are quite fast with race tyres as well, but we are going to have to wait to see what the weather is like tomorrow."

Around 50,000 spectators turned out for qualifying, run in dry, sunny weather after heavy rain on Friday.

If the rain holds off on Sunday, Rossi believes the circuit, which includes sections of old track as well as new asphalt sections, will offer plenty of drama.

"There are places to pass, especially turn one and turn 10, and the grip of the new asphalt is much better in the dry," he said.

"If it's like this tomorrow, then we can have a great race. My target is to get on the podium."

Rossi, who has been in brilliant form since his victory at the US Grand Prix in Laguna Seca in July, is bidding for his fourth successive win

He holds a 75-point lead over Stoner with five races to run.

Indianapolis MotoGP qualifying result:

1 V Rossi (Ita) Fiat Yamaha 1:40.776
2 C Stoner (Aus) Ducati 1:40.860
3 J Lorenzo (Spn) Fiat Yamaha 1:41.177
4 N Hayden (US) Repsol Honda 1:41.271
5 B Spies (US) Rizla Suzuki 1:41.464
6 R de Puniet (Fra) LCR Honda 1:41.492
7 A Dovizioso (Ita) JiR Team Scot 1:41.744
8 D Pedrosa (Spn) Repsol Honda 1:41.754
9 T Elias (Spn) Alice Ducati 1:41.886
10 J Toseland (GB) Tech 3 Yamaha 1:41.897

250cc qualifying result:

1 M Simoncelli (Ita) Gilera 1:45.168
2 H Barbera (Spn) Aprilia 1:45.437
3 M Kallio (Fin) KTM 1:45.563

125cc qualifying result:

1 P Espargaro (Spn) Derbi 1:50.475secs
2 M di Meglio (Fr) Derbi 1:50.844
3 S Bradl (Ger) Aprilia 1:50.878

4 D Webb (GB) Aprilia 1:51.000
9 S Redding (GB) Aprilia 1:51.274
11 B Smith (GB) Polaris World 1:51.572