The MotoGP qualifying session at Motegi followed an all too familiar pattern as Casey Stoner took pole position. This is Stoner’s 10th pole position of 2011 (and his 4th pole position in a row).

The battle for pole seemed to be a 3-way dogfight between Pedrosa, Stoner, and Lorenzo. Pedrosa was the rider that looked strongest early in the session as he sat on provisional pole when he dipped below the 1 minute 46 second time-mark.

With only minutes to go, Lorenzo pulled out a flying lap that saw him take provisional pole away from Pedrosa. Stoner then responded and produced an incredible 1 minute 45 second lap to take pole position (and breaking the lap record in the process).

Andrea Dovizioso also caused upset by pushing Pedrosa down a further spot to take 3rd place. Pedrosa finished in 4th, and Ben Spies, who was still recovering from food poisioning, managed to haul himself up to 5th,

MotoGP Qualifying Results from Japan:

1. Casey Stoner Honda 1m45.267s
2. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha 1m45.523s + 0.256s
3. Andrea Dovizioso Honda 1m45.791s + 0.524s
4. Dani Pedrosa Honda 1m45.966s + 0.699s
5. Ben Spies Yamaha 1m46.042s + 0.775s
6. Marco Simoncelli Gresini Honda 1m46.211s + 0.944s
7. Valentino Rossi Ducati 1m46.467s + 1.200s
8. Alvaro Bautista Suzuki 1m46.586s + 1.319s
9. Hector Barbera Aspar Ducati 1m46.694s + 1.427s
10. Nicky Hayden Ducati 1m46.763s + 1.496s
11. Hiroshi Aoyama Gresini Honda 1m46.811s + 1.544s
12. Cal Crutchlow Tech 3 Yamaha 1m46.818s + 1.551s
13. Randy de Puniet Pramac Ducati 1m46.917s + 1.650s
14. Colin Edwards Tech 3 Yamaha 1m47.165s + 1.898s
15. Karel Abraham Cardion Ducati 1m47.922s + 2.655s
16. Toni Elias LCR Honda 1m48.169s + 2.902s
17. Kousuke Akiyoshi LCR Honda 1m48.367s + 3.100s
18. Damian Cudlin Pramac Ducati 1m48.962s + 3.695s
19. Shinichi Ito Honda 1m49.971s + 4.704s

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