In-form Spanish rider Dani Pedrosa will start from pole in Sunday’s Italian MotoGP while Honda team-mate, defending world champion Casey Stoner, could only manage the fifth fastest qualifying time.

Pedrosa, who won last Sunday’s German MotoGP – will start ahead of series leader and compatriot Jorge Lorenzo, on a Yamaha, while another Spaniard, Hector Barbera, is third on the grid on a Ducati.

It is Pedrosa’s 39th pole position of his career – the 21st in this category.

Pedrosa, who is second in the standings, battled it out with Lorenzo for most of the session but it was to end in disappointment for the latter when he had to come in early on the last lap.

“I had engine problems in the final corners and I had to stop,” said Lorenzo, who leads Pedrosa by 26 points.

“We have to correct this problem before tomorrow.”

Barbera achieved his best result in this category so far, outperforming the two official Ducati entries of Italian legend Valentino Rossi, who was only 10th fastest, and Nicky Hayden, who was fourth quickest.