Stoner struggles in Japan

Casey Stoner's hopes of clinching his first MotoGP world title at the Japanese Grand Prix suffered a setback when he struggled in yesterday's qualifying.

The pressure seemed to get to the Australian, who had his worst qualifying session of the year in Motegi's blazing heat, securing ninth place on the grid for Ducati after clocking 1:47.121. Spain's Dani Pedrosa took his second pole of the season for Honda in 1:45.864.

Stoner leads Valentino Rossi, who will be second on the grid today, by 76 points and needs to finish in front of his Yamaha rival to claim the crown with three races remaining.

Rossi, who kept his mathematical hopes of winning the championship alive with victory in Portugal, clocked one minute 46.255 seconds.

Pedrosa's Honda team-mate and defending world champion Nicky Hayden, of the US, was third in 1:46.575.