Stoner on pole at Laguna Seca

Casey Stoner has taken another step towards winning his first world championship by taking pole position for the US MotoGP in Laguna Seca on Sunday.

Stoner has been quickest in every session at the California track, and qualifying was no exception the Australian stealing top spot on the grid after running off the track early.

The pole position is Stoner's third of the year and his second in as many races and after all the tyre talk Stoner said he felt the team got it right.

"We basically did at least race distance this morning, then we were pretty much using all the old tyres we had to get a better set-up for the last part of the race," Stoner said.

"I made a big mistake going into turn six, I went up too many gears and ran in there with a little bit too much pace."

"The qualifying tyre was pretty good for two laps. I'm really happy."

It was a red-letter day for the Aussies with Chris Vermeulen set to start at the front of the gird after qualifying third fastest.

“It’s great to be on the front row of the grid again at Laguna," Vermeulen said.

"Like I’ve said before this is a circuit I really enjoy and the fans were great again here today. The team has done a fantastic job here all weekend and the bike and tyres are working really well. Unfortunately in the session I couldn’t come to grips with the qualifying tyre and I did my quickest time on a race tyre.

Dani Pedrosa is the other rider on the front row of the grid, the Spaniard just edging Vermeulen to pinch second

Stoner's nearest rival in the championship race, Valentino Rossi, could only manage fifth fastest, the five time championship winner pipped for fourth by the Australian's teammate Loris Capirossi.

Qualifying results from the US MotoGP:
1. Stoner 1:22.292
2. Pedrosa 1:22.501
3. Vermeulen 1:22.590
4. Hayden 1:22.624
5. Rossi 1:22.683
6. Capirossi 1:22.914
7. Hopkins 1:22.933
8. Edwards 1:22.943
9. Nakano 1:23.006
10. Melandri 1:23.018