Rossi grabs pole for MotoGP opener
WELKOM, South Africa -- World champion Valentino Rossi will start the new MotoGP season at the front of the grid after claiming pole position for Sunday's Africa's Grand Prix.
The 25-year-old Italian posted a best time of one minute 32.647 seconds at South Africa's Phakisa circuit with just five minutes of the session left.
Rossi, riding a Yamaha, was two-tenths of a second ahead of Spain's Sete Gibernau, who was joined on the front row by Italian Honda teammate Max Biagi.
"I am very, very, happy with the pole position," said Rossi, who quit Honda for Yamaha after winning his third world title last season.
"I have great confidence in this new adventure, but the race is only tomorrow."
Americans Nicky Hayden and Colin Edwards, both riding Hondas, and Japanese rider Shinya Nakano on a Kawasaki made up the second row.
