Stoner equals pole record
11/05/2011 08:42:21 PM
World champion Casey Stoner rivalled compatriot Mick Doohan's record of 12 pole positions in a single season at the Valencia MotoGP.
The Australian clinched pole at the season-ending event, heading the order throughout on Saturday after earlier rain had subsided.
Stoner led home Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa with a best time of 1 minute 31.861 seconds, more than a second ahead of the second-placed rider.
Ben Spies pipped Randy de Puniet at the end for third but it was still a season-best fourth place for the Pramac Ducati rider.
Alvaro Bautista rode into fifth for Suzuki while the Ducatis of Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden were sixth and seventh respectively.
Andrea Dovizioso crashed early, hampering his chances as he finished eighth while Hector Barbera recovered from mechanical problems to qualify ninth in his Aspar Ducati.
Czech Republic's Karel Abraham was 10th.