Qatar MotoGP, Doha
Date: Sunday 12 April
Preview: BBC2 1300-1330 BST
125cc & 250cc races: BBC Red Button and BBC Sport website 1750-2005 BST
MotoGP race: BBC Three and BBC Sport website, 2045-2200 BST

Stoner is chasing a third consecutive win in Qatar

Casey Stoner laid down a marker for the 2009 MotoGP championship by securing pole position for the opening race of the season in Qatar.

The 2007 world champion, chasing a third consecutive win in Qatar, clocked a time of one minute 55.286 seconds.

That was nearly half a second faster than world champion Valentino Rossi in second, with Jorge Lorenzo in third.

James Toseland finished 13th but the session was overshadowed by a nasty-looking spill involving Nicky Hayden.

The American, making his debut for Ducati, suffered a spectacular highside and skidded off the track on his back, before kneeling on the run-off area in evident pain.

He was taken to the medical centre on a stretcher, where it was confirmed he had not suffered any broken bones or loss of feeling, but he complained of lower back pain and so was taken to a local hospital for further tests.

Team-mate Stoner went to see him straight after his post-race news conference, and Hayden joked he "didn't feel like going running right now."

A decision on whether or not he will race is not expected for a while.

Finland's Mika Kallio was the best placed newcomer, in 10th place.

Dani Pedrosa qualified in 14th place despite being hampered by wrist and knee injuries, while Sete Gibernau, making his return after a two-year absence from MotoGP, will start from 15th position.

The qualifying session took place between rain storms, and Stoner said this had made things more difficult.

"The amount of rain coming, it wasn't looking good for the session to happen at all," he said.

"Then as quickly as it came it stopped. A lot of dust and rain comes down with this rain which makes it more slick - it's a bit difficult to find a set-up when the race is going to be in different conditions tomorrow."

Rossi said he was happy with the progress he was making.

"We had two or three places during the lap where we weren't strong enough, because of this we were second," he said.

"We improved compared to yesterday and this afternoon, now we have to try to make another small step for tomorrow."

Qatar Grand Prix qualifying result:

1 C Stoner (Aus) Ducati 1 min 55.286 sec
2 V Rossi (Ita) Fiat Yamaha 1: 55.759
3 J Lorenzo (Spa) Fiat Yamaha 1:55.783
4 A Dovizioso (Ita) Repsol Honda 1:55.977
5 L Capirossi (Ita) Rizla Suzuki 1:56.149
6 C Edwards (USA) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1:56.194
7 R de Puniet (Fra) LCR Honda 1:56.358
8 C Vermeulen (Aus) Rizla Suzuki 1:56.493
9 A de Angelis (Smr) San Carlo Honda Gresini 1:56.790
10 M Kallio (Fin) Pramac Racing 1:56.852
11 M Melandri (Ita) Hayate Racing 1:56.962
12 T Elias (Spn) San Carlo Honda Gresini 1:57.225
13 J Toseland (GB) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1:57.510
14 D Pedrosa (Spn) Repsol Honda 1:57.729
15 S Gibernau (Spn) Grupo Francisco Hernando 1:57.899
16 N Hayden (US) Ducati 1:58.215
17 Y Takahashi (Jpn) Scot Racing 1:58.784
18 N Canepa (Ita) Pramac Racing 1:58.999

250cc qualifying result:

1 A Bautista (Spa) Aprilia 2min 0.677sec
2 J Aoyama (Jpn) Honda @ 0.100sec
3 M di Meglio (Fr) Aprilia @ 0.436sec
4 H Barbera (Sp) Aprilia @ 0.497sec
5 H Faubel (Sp) Honda @ 0.959sec

125cc qualifying result:

1 J Simon (Spn) Aprilia 2:06.974 secs
2 B Smith (GB) Aprilia 2:07.107
3 A Iannone (Fra) Aprilia 2:07.588
4 N Terol (Spn) Aprilia 2:07.781
5 S Cortese (Ger) Derbi 2:07.835

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