Casey Stoner continued to hold the upper hand against rival Valentino Rossi after taking pole position for the opening round of the FIM MotoGP World Championship in Qatar.
Stoner had been quicker than Rossi during pre-season and the Ducati Marlboro rider will start Sunday’s floodlit race at the Losail circuit from the front row of the grid.
He will be joined on the front row by Fiat Yamaha rider Rossi who was second quickest in qualifying to the man he took the MotoGP title from last season.
“It was quite tense out there but we did a good job,” said Stoner, bidding for a hat trick of Qatar titles. “We have done a good job on the first two days here.”
Rossi clocked 1:55.759 on his Yamaha minutes before a heavy downpour hit the Losail Circuit.
“The situation has become quite interesting now,” he said. “We know Casey is fast and it will be interesting to see what happens tomorrow. We had good rhythm today. My teammate also did well.”
That was Spain’s Jorge Lorenzo, who was third on his Yamaha.
“I’m satisfied with the work we have done. The pre-season has been fantastic and I’m very confident for Sunday’s race,” said Stoner.
“On the other hand, if it rains that won’t be good because the sand will be all over the track which could become very slippy.”
Eight-time world champion Rossi said he was happy to start the race from second position.
“We have progressed a lot over the winter I feel a lot more confident,” said the Italian.
“I’m not so far off and will try on Sunday to take another step forward but it’ll be a long and difficult race.”
Italy’s Andrea Dovizioso, on a Honda, was fourth quickest.
Stoner’s Ducati teammate, former world champion Nicky Hayden of the United States suffered a spectacular fall in the closing stages to mark his 100th grand prix in bruising style and was stretchered off the circuit.
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