Tech3 Yamah’s James Toseland came tantalisingly close to his first MotoGP pole position at Phillip Island this morning with a lap that was only fractions slower than Casey Stoner.

Toseland, who is 28 this weekend, made a couple of errors on his final qualifying tyre, still managed to secure a place on the second row but was disappointed to miss pole by just 0.3s.

“For once it feels nice to be slightly miserable because I know I could have been on the front row. I went wide at the second corner and I had a bit of a slide coming out of Siberia on my last qualifier but I came across the line and saw a 29 flat," said the British World Superbike Champion.

"I was pleased with that, but when I saw the front row was a 28.7 and pole was a 28.6, I realised I could have perhaps got pole being only three-tenths off even with a couple of mistakes. At least it is nice to know where I lost those three-tenths and that with a bit more time I could have found them rather than wondering where I need to make up time on the quick guys.

"It is a long time since I have come to such a familiar track and been comfortable with the bike. And when it all comes together it is a great feeling to show people what I’m capable of. If I can’t do well at these tracks then I’m in trouble. So it is nice to prove that on a track I’ve got some experience on with this bike, I can get the job done."