KEY POINTS:
CALIFORNIA - World championship leader Casey Stoner has claimed pole position on his final qualifying lap for the United States Grand Prix at Laguna Seca Raceway.
The Australian, a five-time race winner this season who posted the top times in all three practice sessions, steered his Ducati round in 1 minute 22.292 seconds at an average speed of 157.925kmh.
Stoner, who leads the world championship by 32 points from Yamaha's Valentino Rossi, claimed his third pole of the season but he has yet to win this campaign after starting from the front.
Spain's Dani Pedrosa was second quickest for Honda, over two tenths in arrears, with Stoner's compatriot Chris Vermeulen third for Suzuki.
World champion Nicky Hayden of the United States, seeking his third straight win in the race, began the qualifying session slowly, but improved and had the fourth fastest effort of 1:22.624.
Rossi was fifth quickest after an earlier spill left him with shoulder and finger injuries.
Qualifying was delayed for 10 minutes early in the session when Italy's Marco Melandri crashed into the dirt infield after clipping American rider Kurtis Roberts.
Melandri was taken off the track for examination, but he later returned to his bike limping and posted the 10th fastest qualifying time, 1:23.018.
The 32-lap, 115.52-km race, the 11th in the 18-event calendar, will be held on Sunday.
- REUTERS
