MotoGP: Casey Stoner dominates qualifying at Phillip Island in Australia
Home favourite Casey Stoner dominated qualifying to claim pole position for the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island.
Last Updated: 27/10/12 8:28am
The Repsol Honda rider set a fastest time of 1 minute 29.623 seconds to grab top spot by over half a second from Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo.
Stoner, who is making his last MotoGP appearance in front of his home fans as he is due to retire at the end of the season, is chasing a sixth consecutive victory at Phillip Island.
The 27-year-old crashed in the early part of the session but was not fazed as he went back to the pits and continued to boss the session on his spare bike.
Dani Pedrosa completed the top three behind championship rival Jorge Lorenzo, although he was almost a second behind team-mate Stoner.
British rider Cal Crutchlow was fourth fastest ahead of Stefan Bradl, while Andrea Dovizioso completed the second row of the grid.
Seven-time champion in the top class Valentino Rossi qualified down in eighth place, over two seconds adrift of Stoner.
Lorenzo leads fellow Spaniard Pedrosa by 23 points in the championship standings and could wrap up the title in the race on Sunday.
