Landmark pole for Stoner
Casey Stoner equalled the all-time record for pole positions in a single season after a dominant qualifying display in Valencia
Last Updated: 05/11/11 5:55pm
Casey Stoner equalled the all-time MotoGP record for pole positions in a single season after he set the fastest time in qualifying for the Valencia Grand Prix.
The Australian set a fastest time of 1 minute 31.861 seconds at the Spanish circuit to secure his 12th pole of the campaign.
Stoner's lap, posted on a drying track after rain had continued to affect the weekend's running, means he equals five-time 500cc world champion Mick Doohan's record for most poles in a season.
The Repsol Honda rider, who wrapped up his second MotoGP crown on home soil in Australia in October, was over a second quicker than Repsol Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa.
The factory Yamaha of Ben Spies will line up third for the final race of the season.
"Of course I'm really happy with pole position today, I'm still hungry to win and get pole positions, after all this is why I line up to go racing," Stoner said.
"Winning the championship is the bonus at the end of the season, but I still try my best in every session and every race.
"The feeling in the bike was pretty good. Now we'll have to see what the weather does tomorrow and take it from there, but we remain confident."
Pramac Racing's Randy de Puniet will start from the front of row two, posting a time just 0.061s slower than Spies, while Alvaro Bautista will line up fifth and Valentino Rossi sixth.
Rossi's Ducati team-mate Nicky Hayden heads the third row from Andrea Dovizioso on the third Repsol Honda, while Britain's Cal Crutchlow qualified in 11th position.
Simoncelli tribute
MotoGP organisers also confirmed that Sunday would feature a ceremony in memory of Italian rider Marco Simoncelli, who was killed in a crash at the last round in Malaysia.
At 10.10am, all riders from the MotoGP, Moto2 and 125cc classes will depart the pit lane en masse and complete a lap of the track in honour of Simoncelli.
The procession will be led by Simoncelli's Honda Gresini RC212V bike, which will be ridden by 1993 world champion Kevin Schwantz.
A statement by MotoGP organisers said: "As the riders round the final corner of the circuit and approach the finish line they will stop just short, with local authorities and representatives of MotoGP's governing bodies congregating on the other side of the finish line alongside Simoncelli's family and members of the Gresini team.
"Once the bikes have taken up their positions on the start/finish straight a two-minute Valencian Mascleta (a traditional firecracker display) will take place."
