[beefus1000]

1 46 Valentino ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team YAMAHA 1'55.002 25 26 309.9
2 27 Casey STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team DUCATI 1'55.007 18 18 0.005 0.005 324.7
3 5 Colin EDWARDS USA Fiat Yamaha Team YAMAHA 1'55.233 24 24 0.231 0.226 307.9
4 24 Toni ELIAS SPA Honda Gresini HONDA 1'55.358 20 20 0.356 0.125 312.2
5 26 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team HONDA 1'55.361 24 24 0.359 0.003 317.0
6 21 John HOPKINS USA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP SUZUKI 1'55.833 21 22 0.831 0.472 313.1
7 65 Loris CAPIROSSI ITA Ducati Marlboro Team DUCATI 1'55.851 19 19 0.849 0.018 323.5
8 14 Randy DE PUNIET FRA Kawasaki Racing Team KAWASAKI 1'55.933 21 21 0.931 0.082 308.1
9 1 Nicky HAYDEN USA Repsol Honda Team HONDA 1'56.041 21 22 1.039 0.108 312.5
10 33 Marco MELANDRI ITA Honda Gresini HONDA 1'56.222 23 23 1.220 0.181 308.5
11 56 Shinya NAKANO JPN Konica Minolta Honda HONDA 1'56.306 21 22 1.304 0.084 312.2
12 7 Carlos CHECA SPA Honda LCR HONDA 1'56.609 24 24 1.607 0.303 310.3
13 71 Chris VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP SUZUKI 1'56.639 21 24 1.637 0.030 309.0
14 19 Olivier JACQUE FRA Kawasaki Racing Team KAWASAKI 1'56.754 20 21 1.752 0.115 311.3
15 4 Alex BARROS BRA Pramac d'Antin DUCATI 1'56.814 19 22 1.812 0.060 319.5
16 50 Sylvain GUINTOLI FRA Dunlop Yamaha Tech 3 YAMAHA 1'57.257 22 23 2.255 0.443 309.2
17 66 Alex HOFMANN GER Pramac d'Antin DUCATI 1'57.274 22 22 2.272 0.017 322.6
18 10 Kenny ROBERTS JR USA Team Roberts KR212V 1'57.495 19 19 2.493 0.221 306.2
19 6 Makoto TAMADA JPN Dunlop Yamaha Tech 3 YAMAHA 1'58.024 20 20 3.022 0.529 310.1
20 99 Jeremy McWILLIAMS GBR Ilmor GP ILMOR GP 1'59.606 10 17 4.604 1.582 313.0
21 88 Andrew PITT AUS Ilmor GP ILMOR GP 1'59.725 7 18 4.723 0.119 307.3

Roll on Saturday.... :-)

[firebladetoronto]

Holy Stoner!! Good job. What's up with the Honda's? Nicky 9th, wow!!

[Acidreign]

DOHA, March 9 (Reuters) - Valentino Rossi put Yamaha on pole position for MotoGP's Qatar season-opener with a blistering last lap in qualifying on Friday.

The Italian pipped Australian Casey Stoner, on pole for Honda last year and now riding a Ducati, by just 0.005 seconds in near-perfect conditions.

Rossi's Texan team mate Colin Edwards completed the front row for Saturday's race.

Rossi, determined to regain the world title he held for five years before being dethroned by American Nicky Hayden last season, is chasing a hat-trick of wins in Qatar and the pole was the 46th of his grand prix career -- matching his racing number.

"It's extra special for me," he said. "I hope this is a good omen for tomorrow.

"It was a great qualifying session," added the 28-year-old. "The last 50 metres was a great show. I was not sure if I had finished on top as all the riders - Casey, Colin and me were very fast.

"We expect a good performance during the race as the bikes have a good grip on the track with the tyres," he added.

MotoGP has reduced the engine capacity this year from 990cc to 800.

The Yamaha riders were fastest in the third free practice on Friday morning with Edwards lapping in 1:56.057 and Rossi trailing behind by 0.215. Stoner was half a second behind the Texan.

The Australian got his own back in the final qualifying session, but was unable to displace Rossi from the top.

"This is a great start and we are obviously going to get better as the season progresses," said the Australian. "All the riders are very good and are clocking good times. I am sure this is going to be great season."

Hayden, who had a poor practice session on Thursday, turned in a better performance on Friday but starts on the third row after qualifying ninth fastest.

The Kentucky rider's Spanish team mate Dani Pedrosa, expected to be Rossi's main rival this season, will start fifth in 1:55.361.

Honda's Toni Elias was fourth while Suzuki's John Hopkins ended up sixth ahead of Ducati's Loris Capirossi.

Elias, Capirossi and Honda's Marco Melandri all went off track into the gravel while Japan's Shinya Nakano (Honda) and Jeremy McWilliams (Ilmor) has minor crashes.

Frenchman Randy de Puniet came up with a stunning performance for Kawasaki, topping the time sheets for much of the qualifying session, until he was outpaced by the big names towards the end. He ended up eighth.

Defending champion Jorge Lorenzo of Spain took the 250cc pole in 1:59.432 while Hungary's Gabor Talmacsi leads the 125cc starting grid for Aprilia.

(Editing by Alan Baldwin, London Sports Desk; Reuters Messaging)

[SJ96F3]

I have a feeling that Rossi is going to destroy everybody this year.

[firebladetoronto]

Edwards will win rookie of the year!!