Pedrosa on pole for San Marino MotoGP

Reuters

POLE: Spain's Dani Pedrosa.

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Australian Casey Stoner has bounced back from a disappointing practice by qualifying third for the San Marino MotoGP.

Stoner's effort came despite crashing in the first quarter of an hour of Saturday's qualifying session and puts him on the front row alongside pole sitter Dani Pedrosa and championship leader Jorge Lorenzo.

Pedrosa claimed his 17th MotoGP pole by a mere three thousandths of a second from fellow Spaniard Lorenzo to continue the good form which saw him win the United States grand prix in Indianapolis last weekend.

"I prefer to be in front because the first corner is very tight and I don't want to find myself in a mass crash," said Pedrosa.

Italy's multi-time world champion Valentino Rossi, winner here the past two seasons, was fourth fastest, edging out American rookie Ben Spies, who is replacing Ducati-bound Rossi at Yamaha next season.

Qualifying was so tight that the first 10 riders were within a second of each other after Honda had threatened to dominate it on Friday in practice.

- AAP