Capirossi on pole for Qatar Grand Prix

Loris Capirossi lined himself up for a hat-trick of successive MotoGP wins by taking pole position for the third race in a row at the Qatar Grand Prix yesterday. The Italian Ducati rider swept around the Losail circuit in a record 1:56.917 for his 11th...

Loris Capirossi lined himself up for a hat-trick of successive MotoGP wins by taking pole position for the third race in a row at the Qatar Grand Prix yesterday.

The Italian Ducati rider swept around the Losail circuit in a record 1:56.917 for his 11th pole position in the top class of grand prix racing.

Spain's Sete Gibernau, winner of the inaugural Qatar race last year, was second fastest for Honda, with Italian Valentino Rossi, who secured a fifth straight world title last weekend, third quickest on his Yamaha.

Capirossi, 32, is third in the riders' standings, 17 points behind Honda's Max Biaggi, who could only manage the 13th best time in the one-hour session.

Kawasaki's French rider Olivier Jacque took no part in qualifying and will not race today after sustaining a back injury in a crash in the opening free practice session.

Finn Mika Kallio, who trails Swiss Thomas Luthi by eight points in the title race, grabbed pole position for the 125cc race in a time of 2:09.455. Luthi was ninth.

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