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Stoner takes Qatar pole

Doha - Australia's Casey Stoner, riding a Ducati, claimed pole position for Sunday's floodlit, season-opening Qatar Grand Prix as he targeted a fourth successive win at the desert venue.

Stoner clocked 1min 55.007sec to see off the Yamahas of world champion Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo in Saturday's session while Randy de Puniet, on a Honda, was fourth fastest.

Rossi set a time of 1:55.362 as he ensured his world title defence will begin from the front row of the grid in Losail.

His Fiat Yamaha team-mate Lorenzo, who suffered a hand injury in pre-season, put in a strong performance with the Spaniard just over half a second off Stoner’s pace.

De Puniet heads the second row after a best time of 1:55.831.

Loris Capirossi, on a Suzuki, will start a record-breaking 300th Grand Prix from fifth place.

The veteran, with a time of 1:55.899, was ahead of fellow Italian Andrea Dovizioso on a Honda.

Starting grid for Qatar Grand Prix:

MotoGP:

1. Casey Stoner (AUS/Ducati) 1:55:007
2. Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) at 0.355
3. Jorge Lorenzo (ESP/Yamaha) 0.513
4. Randy de Puniet (FRA/Honda) 0.824
5. Loris Capirossi (ITA/Suzuki) 0.892
6. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Honda) 0.956
7. Dani Pedrosa (ITA/Honda) 0.983
8. Colin Edwards (USA/Yamaha) 0.998
9. Nicky Hayden (USA/Ducati) 1.156
10. Hiroshi Aoyama (JPN/Honda) 1.220

125cc:

1. Marc Marquez (ESP/Derbi) 2:06.651
2. Pol Espargaro (ESP/Derbi) at 0.459
3. Nicolas Terol (ESP/Aprilia) 0.485
4. Efren Vasquez (ESP/Derbi) 0.492
5. Randy Krummenacher (SUI/Aprilia) 1.119

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