Highlights

Casey Stoner wins the pole position for Italian GP

(AP)
Updated: 2007-06-02 21:44

SCARPERIA, Italy - MotoGP leader Casey Stoner claimed the pole position Saturday for the Italian Grand Prix.

The 21-year-old Australian rode his Ducati on the rain-soaked 5.2-kilometer (3.2-mile) Mugello circuit in 2 minutes, 0.359 seconds for his first pole of the season ahead of Sunday's race.

He leads the MotoGP standings with 102 points after five races.

"We've always been quite fast in the wet," Stoner said. "It's very difficult in these conditions, but we seem to be doing quite well and we'll see how it goes tomorrow."

Chris Vermeulen of Australia was second on his Suzuki in 2:01.381.Valentino Rossi of Italy was next in 2:01.695, followed by Olivier Jacque on a Kawasaki in 2:01.709.

World champion Nicky Hayden was 13th, almost four seconds slower than Stoner.

Rossi, who trails Stoner by 21 points for second place in the overall standings, has won the Italian GP for the last five years.

In the 125cc class, Hector Faubel of Spain clinched the pole on his Aprilia in 2:15.309 in Friday's first qualifying session.

Mike Di Meglio was second on his Honda in 2:16.053. Gabor Talmacsi of Aprilia was next in 2:18.750, followed by Dino Lombardi, also of Aprilia, in 2:18.829.