2009 Assen MotoGP Qualifying Practice Result - Pole Decided By Less Than A Tenth

Result and summary of MotoGP qualifying practice at Assen:

Valentino Rossi will start the 79th running of the Dutch TT at Assen from pole on Saturday, after setting a mark with 2 minutes of the session left. Rossi had swapped provisional pole with Casey Stoner several times, before Valentino Rossi struck in the last couple of minutes. Dani Pedrosa took advantage of Rossi's quick pace, following the Italian around to take 2nd place. Jorge Lorenzo took the final spot on the front row, the Spaniard very fast in the first three sectors of the track, but losing out in the final blistering section through Meeuwenmeer, Hoge Heide, Ramshoek and the final chicane.

Casey Stoner finished 4th, and was irate coming into the pits, the Australian gesturing at the Suzuki pits next to him, after he felt he'd found Sete Gibernau sitting on the racing line at the fastest part of the track, waiting to follow him round. He later complained that this was becoming increasingly common, and that Race Direction never seem to do anything about it.