Reigning World MotoGP Champion Casey Stoner has taken his first pole position of the 2008 season in Catalunya this afternoon, ripping through the track lap record on his final circuit and deposing Dani Pedrosa from the top spot.
But championship leader Valentino Rossi could only manage ninth place after running off track on what should have been his final qualifying lap.
Texas Tornado Colin Edwards topped the timesheets on his Tech3 Yamaha with ten minutes to go after putting in a 1'41.609 lap which was then beaten by Nicky Hayden who went just under half a tenth faster on his Repsol Honda.
Hayden's team-mate Pedrosa then put in a stunning lap with two minutes left in the session, which looked on the edge and far from smooth, to push the Kentucky Kid into second. Pedrosa was on his number two bike after his favoured RC212V caught fire early on. The bike was covered as it was wheeled down pitlane and back into the Honda garage.
Stoner then stepped up with just one minute to go and clinched the top spot with a 1'41.186.
MotoGP qualifying - conditions dry
1. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 41.186 secs
2. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 41.269 secs
3. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 41.437 secs
4. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP (M) 1min 41.571 secs
5. Colin Edwards USA Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 1min 41.609 secs
6. James Toseland GBR Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 1min 41.820 secs
7. Andrea Dovizioso ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP (M) 1min 42.053 secs
8. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 42.365 secs
9. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (B) 1min 42.427 secs
10. Alex de Angelis RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 1min 42.580 secs
11. Shinya Nakano JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 1min 42.643 secs
12. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 42.648 secs
13. Toni Elias SPA Alice Team (B) 1min 42.808 secs
14. John Hopkins USA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 42.819 secs
15. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Alice Team (B) 1min 43.204 secs
16. Marco Melandri ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 43.719 secs
17. Anthony West AUS Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 44.558 secs