Stoner out in front

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The Ducati Marlboro rider was quickest around the circuit as the qualifying session was staged in rain, replicating the conditions from the previous round in France where Stoner took third to extend his lead.

The Australian, who holds a 21-point lead after finishing third at Le Mans, set a fastest lap at Mugello of two minutes 3.59 seconds while Rizla Suzuki's Chris Vermeulenwas second quickest and will be joined on the front row of the grid by seven-time world champion Valentino Rossi.

The Fiat Yamaha rider was third fastest, with title holder Nicky Hayden down in 13th on the Repsol Honda.

Rossi was pleased with his performance because of the lottery of a rain-hit qualifying session.

"I'm very happy about this front row because today was really a bit of a 'casino' with the weather and I think anything could have happened," said Rossi.

"We started off with wet tyres and actually everything felt quite good, then it began to dry out very quickly because of the wind. I was actually a bit unlucky because I put a harder rear (tyre) in to try to do a faster lap on the drying track just as it began to rain again in the middle of the session.

"I was in eighth place and as soon as it stopped raining again I knew I had to get out and try to improve my time. With full wets the bike worked very well and I was able to keep on doing faster and faster laps as the track dried out."

Oxfordshire teenager Bradley Smith was 10th quickest in the 125cc class on the Repsol Honda as he looked to build on his first podium finish in France.