SCARPERIA, Italy: Seven-time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi took pole position for his home Italian Grand Prix on Saturday.
It's the second pole of the season for Rossi — who also qualified first and then won the Spanish GP — and his first at Mugello since 2008, when he last won the Italian race.
Rossi, who rides for the Movistar Yamaha team, clocked 1 minute, 46.504 seconds to finish 0.094 ahead of Maverick Vinales of Suzuki.
Andrea Iannone of Ducati was third, 0.103 behind, after leading the final two practices.
Rossi's Spanish rivals Marc Marquez and Jorge Lorenzo were fourth and fifth, respectively.
Lorenzo leads the standings by five points ahead of Marquez. Rossi is 12 points back in third.
Romano Fenati of Rossi's SKY Racing Team VR46 took the Moto3 pole.
AP
