Rossi snatches pole (From Western Telegraph)

Rossi snatches pole

3:19pm Saturday 25th July 2009 in

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Valentino Rossi produced a stunning lap in the closing moments of qualifying to claim pole position for Sunday's FIM MotoGP World Championship round at Donington Park.

Reigning champion and series leader Rossi was lingering in fifth position until the last three minutes when he put his Fiat Yamaha in first with a lap of one minute 28.116 seconds.

Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa was second fastest with an effort of 1:28.211 with Rossi's teammate and nearest title challenger Jorge Lorenzo third.

Marlboro Ducati rider Casey Stoner - who has won the last two races at Donington - was fourth with Britain's James Toseland ninth on his Tech 3 Yamaha.

Rossi said: "The pole position was a surprise because we were struggling for grip on the harder tyre but after a few modifications we were very fast on the softer tyre at the end.

"We start in first position and we now must wait for the weather. It looks like it may rain but we all hope for a dry race.

"This is a great racetrack with a great history and I had my first victory on the 500cc bike here so it has great memories for me.

"I want to go out with a win."