Rossi on pole for Turkish GP

Former world champion Valentino Rossi (picture) put Yamaha on pole position for today's Turkish Grand Prix, while his US team-mate Colin Edwards grabbed second in the final minutes of MotoGP qualifying.

Italian Rossi clocked one minute 52.795 seconds on the Istanbul circuit in yesterday's qualifying with Edwards 0.149 slower.

Spain's Dani Pedrosa was third quickest for Honda (1:52.971) and Casey Stoner was fourth on a Ducati (1:53.375).

Seven-times world champion Rossi was unthroned last year by American Nicky Hayden but leads the standings by nine points from Stoner after winning the Spanish MotoGP last month. Hayden is sixth.

Italian Andrea Dovizioso snatched pole in the 250cc category. The Honda rider had a quickest lap time of 1:57.473, 0.077 ahead of the man who beat him to last year's world title, Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo. San Marino's Alex De Angelis was third fastest.

In the 125cc category, Mattia Pasini of Italy took pole, followed by Spain's Hector Faubel.