Dovizioso beats Rossi to Assen pole

Paris - Italian Andrea Dovizioso took pole position for the Dutch Grand Prix at Assen by edging out compatriot Valentino Rossi in qualifying on Saturday.

Nine-time world champion Rossi stopped midway through the session to save the tyres on his Yamaha, allowing Ducati's Dovizioso to claim the 17th pole of his career, and his fourth in MotoGP.

Honda's championship leader Marc Marquez could only manage fourth, just behind surprise package Scott Redding of Great Britain, who will start from third for Ducati Pramac.

Defending champion Jorge Lorenzo goes into the race 10 points behind Marquez in the drivers' standings, and will start from down in 11th spot on the grid.

The struggles of his title rivals leaves Rossi with a fantastic opportunity to close the gap in the championship in Sunday's race, which he will begin 22 points behind Spaniard Marquez.

The 37-year-old has won around the Assen track seven times in his MotoGP career, while Dovizioso's only victory in the elite class came in the British Grand Prix seven years ago.