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Stoner secures surprise Qatar pole
 Stoner gives the thumbs up after his astonishing ride for pole position. DOHA, Qatar -- Australian rookie Casey Stoner has taken pole position for Saturday's Qatar MotoGP after a "dream" ride on his Honda on Friday. Stoner, who reached Doha only on Thursday morning, showed superb control to clock the best time of one minute 55.68 seconds. Italy's Loris Capirossi, winner of the first race of the season in Spain on a Ducati, was second in 1:55.721 while world champion Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) was back in sixth position. Spain's Toni Elias, on a Honda, was third in 1:55.735 - his first front row slot. "I feel I am living a dream," Stoner said. "I didn't expect this to happen for another two years. It has happened now and I am very excited about the whole thing. "I managed to do a great lap today. I would have been happy with a finish in the top three, but to be the best rider in Doha today makes me very happy." Stoner finished second in the 250cc class last season and showed his potential in MotoGP by grabbing sixth place in the Jerez race on March 26. Capirossi was confident he could claim a second successive victory. "I am happy to be on the front row, that's what I was looking for at the start of the day. A victory is a definite possibility tomorrow," Capirossi said. 
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