DIGEST/MOTOR SPORT:Valentino Rossi put Yamaha on pole position for MotoGP's Qatar season-opener with a blistering last lap in qualifying yesterday. The Italian pipped Australian Casey Stoner, on pole for Honda last year and now riding a Ducati, by 0.005 seconds in near-perfect conditions. Rossi's team-mate Colin Edwards completed the front row for today's race.

Rossi, determined to regain the world title he held for five years before being dethroned by Nicky Hayden last season, is chasing a hat-trick of wins in Qatar and the pole was the 46th of his grand prix career.

The Yamaha riders were fastest in the third free practice yesterday with Edwards lapping in 1:56.057 and Rossi trailing by 0.215. Stoner was half a second behind the Texan. Stoner got his own back in the final session, but was unable to displace Rossi.