Rossi secures Dutch pole

Italy's Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) yesterday secured pole position for the MotoGP Dutch Grand Prix in Assen, ahead of Spaniards Dani Pedrosa (Honda) and Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha).

It was the second pole of the year for the eight-time world champion, following his first-place start in Japan, and the 53rd of his career.

Rossi, Lorenzo and Australia's Casey Stoner (Ducati) are currently locked in a three-way tie on 106 points at the head of the championship standings.

The trio enjoyed a tense tussle for ascendancy on the Assen grid, with Pedrosa eventually sneaking in front of Stoner and Lorenzo at the end of the qualifying session to secure second place, 0.085sec behind Rossi.