Casey Stoner will start from pole position for the season-opening FIM MotoGP World Championship race in Qatar.
Australian lokoing to clinch fourth straight win at desert track
Casey Stoner continued to dominate in Qatar, claiming pole position for the season-opening FIM MotoGP World Championship race.
The Australian, chasing a fourth successive victory at the desert track, managed a best lap of one minute 55.007 seconds - over two-tenths better than the time he managed in qualifying last year.
Reigning champion Valentino Rossi will start from second on the grid with his Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo in third.
LCR Honda's Randy de Puniet produced a brilliant ride under the floodlights to claim fourth position ahead of a number of factory-backed rivals.
His time of 1min 55.831secs proved enough to edge out Rizla Suzuki's Loris Capirossi, who will be contesting his 300th grand prix on Sunday.
Andrea Dovizioso rounds out the second row on his Repsol Honda, while Dani Pedrosa is one place further back.
Colin Edwards will start from eighth for Tech 3 Yamaha with Ducati Marlboro's Nicky Hayden in ninth. FIM 250cc world champion Hiroshi Aoyama (Interwetten Honda) rounds out the top 10.
