In-form Spanish rider Dani Pedrosa will start from pole in today’s Italian MotoGP after posting the fastest time in qualifying at the Mugello circuit yesterday.

The 26-year-old Honda star – who won last Sunday’s German MotoGP – will start ahead of series leader and compatriot Jorge Lorenzo, on a Yamaha, while another Spaniard, Hector Barbera, is third on the grid on a Ducati.

It is Pedrosa’s 39th pole position of his career – the 21st in this category.

Pedrosa’s Australian team-mate and defending world champion Casey Stoner, who crashed out when second just two turns from the chequered flag of the German MotoGP, was fifth fastest.

Pedrosa, who is second in the standings, battled it out with Lorenzo for most of the session but it was to end in disappointment for the latter when he had to come in early on the last lap.

“I had engine problems in the final corners and I had to stop,” said Lorenzo, who leads Pedrosa by14 points.

“We have to correct this problem before tomorrow.”

Barbera, riding for Pramac Racing, claimed his first front row grid position since stepping up to MotoGP in 2010.

American Nicky Hayden (Ducati) edged out Pedrosa’s Australian team-mate Stoner for fourth place while Monster Yamaha pair Cal Crutchlow and Andrea Dovizioso were separated by just two hundredths of a second in the battle for sixth place.

The Briton won the battle despite a crash, Italian Dovizioso narrowly avoiding the same fate late on while pushing for a place on the second row.

Stefan Bradl (Honda) is eighth ahead of Ben Spies, who crashed his Yamaha in the same spot as Crutchlow on turn 12.

Valentino Rossi only managed 10th place.

Standings

1. Lorenzo (Yamaha) 160 points, 2. Pedrosa (Honda) 146, 3. Stoner (Honda) 140, 4. Dovizioso (Yamaha) 92, 5. Crutchlow (Yamaha) 85, 6. Rossi (Ducati) 71, 7. Bautista (Honda) 67, 8. Hayden (Ducati) 65, 9. Bradl (Honda) 62, 10. Spies (Yamaha) 61.