"MOTOGP: Stoner Takes First Pole of ‘08"

Defending world champion Casey Stoner scored his first pole position of the season with a fast and good performance ahead of Sunday's Grand Prix of Catalunya. The result surprised the Ducati as it now returns to the speed that took him to last year's world title.

Stoner increase in the afternoon beaten rivals Honda Dani Pedrosa and Nicky Hayden containment pole, however, the couple Honda will start in the front row with young Australians. Pedrosa was second fastest with Hayden, driven by its performance following recent setbacks, third in the network.

Just 0.2s separated the top trio with Stoner slicing 0.7s Valentino Rossi off the previous record of qualification. Rossi begins its ninth Yamaha on the outside of the third row, their worst possible rating for the season so far.

The second row is headed by French rider Randy de Puniet (Honda) who returned from a heavy crash in practice with a strong qualifying holding only run ahead of the Yamaha pair Colin Edwards (fifth) and James Toseland (sixth) .

Stoner won this race last year and again is the runner to beat.

"I really did not expect to be on pole today," said Stoner. "When I put the final qualifying tyre I thought it would be fortunate to be in the front row, but I kept it smooth and fast but not feel the time was great."

Stoner is bristling with confidence his career with start-up and practice, times have been fast and consistent. He has selected the most tyre compounds available in anticipation of warm temperatures track that will be hard for tire wear.


Pedrosa of the qualification race was interrupted when her bicycle was halted in mid-session with an electrical problem and lost time in exchange for his support machine. He admitted that he became "nervous" about their prospects of qualification.

"It took me some time to be quiet and find my rhythm and mount some fast laps but fortunately I did and I came close to getting pole," said Pedrosa. "It's important to start from the front row at my home race and now we must wait to see what time will do."

While two days of practice have been dry there has been heavy rains for two nights hence, increasing the uncertainty of Sunday in conditions of the track.

Hayden is in the front row for the first time in a season that has so far held little joy for the world champion 2006.

"I would say that this was my best day of the year for me, I was the second in practice in the morning and now third in qualifying," said Hayden. "We expect to be there and get the momentum rolling my way and keep building on it. It's much more fun when they are competitive.

"But the choice of tyres is a commitment here, because some are better than others or resistance to the lap time."

Rossi is also concerned about tire wear and said that as the track temperature increased its performance in comparison with the suffering Stoner who also heads the Bridgestone tyres This, and problems with corner entry hurt Rossi's performance during practice and final qualifying.

"For sure I have a very
tough race ahead, "said Rossi.

Chris Vermeulen began the eighth as the first Suzuki rider and he made an impressively strong run in the race tyres early in the qualifying session.

"But in the qualifiers I had grip problems, the front was too hard and the rear of the bike did push a lot, but we made a big step with the race tyres," said Vermeulen.

John Hopkins will race with the severe discomfort of a painful back injury suffered in a heavy crash during practice Friday. Battered and bruised, his Kawasaki Hopkins qualified 14th but faces a tough task tomorrow at 25 Lapp.

"I find it difficult to breathe properly, especially on the left and turns with the tensions in the body at those speeds is tough on the body," says Hopkins. "However, I have a good race pace despite the lost time, although I'm suffering from a lack of rear grip at the apex of corners."

The race will be missing star novice Spanish Jorge Lorenzo who is spending the weekend in hospital under observation after suffering concussion when it crashed in practice on Friday.

Lawrence returned, largely through the gravel after losing the front-end. Gash also his right hand, which may require a small skin graft. Initially Lorenzo had a temporary loss of memory, but after a night of rest in the hospital informing him on the road to recovery and should be fit to race in next week British Grand Prix at Donington.