German MotoGP: Stoner steals pole

Repsol Honda rider Casey Stoner will start tomorrow’s MotoGP race at the Sachsenring from pole position after taking pole position from free practice pace setter Marco Simoncelli.

Team-mate Dani Pedrosa looks to be back up to full fitness after taking the second spot on the grid to complete a Repsol one two. Champion Jorge Lorenzo completes the front row in third.

Despite setting the fastest times in both free practice sessions on Friday, Italian Marco Simoncelli was unable to beat Stoner’s time during qualifying and will start from fourth on the grid, ahead of Ben Spies, with Andrea Dovizioso completing the second row.

Brit Cal Crutchlow struggled round the German track, qualifying in 12th. The Tech 3 rider lowsided in the final moments of the session, all but destroying his bike, but walked away.

Ducati rider Valentino Rossi was the big surprise of the session qualifying down in 16th, with only Sylvain Guintoli behind the Italian.

1. Casey Stoner AUS Repsol Honda 1m 21.681s
2. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda 1m 21.933s
3. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha Factory Racing 1m 21.944s
4. Marco Simoncelli ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1m 21.954s
5. Ben Spies USA Yamaha Factory Racing 1m 22.056s
6. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda 1m 22.157s
7. Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1m 22.368s
8. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro 1m 22.388s
9. Randy de Puniet FRA Pramac Racing 1m 22.503s
10. Alvaro Bautista ESP Rizla Suzuki 1m 22.604s
11. Hector Barbera ESP Mapfre Aspar 1m 22.676s
12. Cal Crutchlow GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1m 22.676s
13. Karel Abraham CZE Cardion AB Motoracing 1m 23.164s
14. Toni Elias ESP LCR Honda 1m 23.201s
15. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini 1m 23.248s
16. Valentino Rossi ITA Ducati Marlboro 1m 23.320s
17. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Pramac Racing 1m 24.707s