Rossi on pole for British MotoGP

Italian superstar Valentino Rossi claimed pole position for the British Grand Prix in Donington yesterday.

The Yamaha rider finished just ahead of Spaniards Dani Pedrosa (Honda) and his Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo with only one second covering the first seven on the grid.

Rossi ensured pole for today's race with the top qualifying time of one minute 28.116 seconds which gave the eight-time world champion's fourth pole of the season.

Pedrosa was fastest in practice in the rain on Friday and again in yesterday's early session only for Rossi to turn on the power when it mattered most to edge out the Spaniard by 0.095 seconds.

Former world champion Casey Stoner, Andrea Dovizioso and Colin Edwards will start on the second row.

"I'm surprised," was Rossi's initial reaction after bagging his 55th career pole but his first at Donington since 2005.

He suggested rain, a definite possibility today, could well play a major role on the outcome of the race.

"We're not at the maximum with the hard tyre, so if tomorrow (today) is dry, we'll have to reconsider and modify out settings as I don't have much grip," he told BBC Sport, yesterday.

Pedrosa was satisfied with his afternoon's work. Front row is good, as we've not been there in the last few races so that's important," said the Honda rider.