US MotoGP, Laguna Seca
Date: 24-25 July
Sunday 25 July: Race as live: 2200-2300, BBC Two and BBC Sport website

World Championship leader Jorge Lorenzo claimed his fifth pole position in a row in qualifying for Sunday's US Grand Prix at Laguna Seca, California.

The Spanish Yamaha rider, who leads the rider standings by 47 points, clocked one minute 20.978 seconds.

Casey Stoner came second (1:21.169) and Andrea Dovizioso took third (1:21.617).

Defending champion and Lorenzo's nearest championship rival Dani Pedrosa was fourth while nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi was sixth.

Australian Stoner's Ducati had dominated Friday's practice sessions and had continually bettered Lorenzo's qualifying runs.

However, Lorenzo produced a magnificent ride to take top spot in the dying seconds of the hour-long session.

Ben Spies was the best of the home riders as he ended up fifth on his Tech 3 Yamaha.

Rossi continued his comeback from a fractured leg with a underwhelming qualifying session to finish sixth.

The Italian, who was fourth in the German Grand Prix last weekend and has been tipped for a podium finish on Sunday, claimed after practice that he was experiencing pain from his injured shin because of the rigours of the circuit.

US Grand Prix qualifying result:
1 Jorge Lorenzo (Spa) Fiat Yamaha 1:20.978
2 Casey Stoner (Aus) Ducati 1:21.169
3 Andrea Dovizioso (Ita) Repsol Honda 1:21.617
4 Dani Pedrosa (Spa) Repsol Honda 1:21.655
5 Ben Spies (US) Tech 3 Yamaha 1:21.679
6 Valentino Rossi (Ita) Fiat Yamaha 1:21.688
7 Nicky Hayden (US) Ducati 1:21.920
8 Colin Edwards (US) Tech 3 Yamaha 1:22.217
9 Marco Simoncelli (Ita) San Carlo Honda Gresini 1:22.300
10 Hector Barbera (Spa) Aspar Ducati 1:22.366
11 Marco Melandri (Ita) San Carlo Honda Gresini 1:22.407
12 Loris Capirossi (Ita) Suzuki 1:22.647
13 Aleix Espargaro (Spa) Ducati 1:22.712
14 Alvaro Bautista (Spa) Suzuki 1:22.770
15 Mika Kallio (Fin) Pramac Ducati 1:23.127
16. Alex De Angelis (SM) Honda 1.23:417
17. Roger Lee Hayden (US) Honda 1.23.764

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