MotoReview

Spanish GP winner Loris Capirossi put everything into a quick lap in the final minutes of the session but couldn't beat Stoner's time, missing out by just 0.04 seconds. Fortuna Honda rider Toni Elias rounds out the top three. Tomorrow's race will be the Spaniard's first ever front row start in the MotoGP class and only his second race on the Honda.

Elsewhere in the timesheets Nicky Hayden managed to beat his rookie teammate Dani Pedrosa to fourth whilst Gibernau qualified seventh, unable to match fellow Ducati rider Capirossi's pace.

The Yamahas of Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards never looked blisteringly fast on a single lap which is reflected in their qualifying positions (6th and 8th respectively), but they seem to be capable of consistently putting good lap times in on race tyres so you'd have to assume they will have good race pace tomorrow.

At the back of the third row is Shinya Nakano who has been struggling with his Bridgestone tyres throughout the practice sessions so far and completing the top 10 is the KR211V of Kenny Roberts Jr. 

Qatar MotoGP Qualifying Results 

1) Casey Stoner Honda LCR 1'55.683
2) Loris Capirossi Ducati Marlboro Team 1'55.721
3) Toni Elias Fortuna Honda 1'55.735
4) Nicky Hayden Repsol Honda Team 1'55.793
5) Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team 1'56.008
6) Valentino Rossi Camel Yamaha Team 1'56.076
7) Sete Gibernau Ducati Marlboro Team 1'56.177
8) Colin Edwards Camel Yamaha Team 1'56.230
9) Shinya Nakano Kawasaki Racing Team 1'56.237
10) Kenny Roberts Jr Team Roberts 1'56.272
11) Chris Vermeulen Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1'56.356
12) Marco Melandri Fortuna Honda 1'56.822
13) John Hopkins Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1'56.981
14) Carlos Checa Tech 3 Yamaha 1'57.299
15) Randy De Puniet Kawasaki Racing Team 1'57.822
16) Makoto Tamada Konica Minolta Honda 1'57.891
17) James Ellison Tech 3 Yamaha 1'58.674
18) Alex Hofmann Pramac d'Antín MotoGP 1'59.591
19) Jose Luis Cardoso Pramac d'Antín MotoGP 1'59.733