Stoner takes pole position for Dutch race

MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner took his third pole position in three races yesterday after lapping inside the circuit record in qualifying for today's Dutch TT race at Assen. The 22-year-old Australian rode his Ducati around the track in one minute...

MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner took his third pole position in three races yesterday after lapping inside the circuit record in qualifying for today's Dutch TT race at Assen.

The 22-year-old Australian rode his Ducati around the track in one minute 35.520 seconds, slashing nearly a second off the previous pole record.

Stoner, who won the British Grand Prix at Donington Park from pole position last Sunday, was 0.032 faster than Honda's Spaniard Dani Pedrosa with Italian Valentino Rossi completing the front row 0.139 off the pole.

American Nicky Hayden, a winner in the Netherlands two years ago, was fourth fastest for Honda ahead of French LCR Honda rider Randy de Puniet and American Colin Edwards on a Yamaha.

Rossi leads the championship with 162 points after eight races, 11 points ahead of Pedrosa with Stoner on 117.

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