MotoGP champion Casey Stoner took the pole position for the Dutch Grand Prix today at Essen but he certainly had to work hard for it as he was in constant battle with Fiat Yamaha's Valentino Rossi and Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa.

While the Ducati driver held a comfortable lead at the top, a late charge from Rossi turned things around. But Stoner went back on track and in his last lap he took back pole position in a last ditch effort.

John Hopkins suffered a violent accident at the De Bult corner near the end of the hour. No information has yet been released about his condition.

Qualifying Results:

Pos Rider Team Time Laps
1. Casey Stoner Ducati Marlboro Team 1:35.520 23
2. Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team 1:35.552 + 0.032 28
3. Valentino Rossi Fiat Yamaha Team 1:35.659 + 0.139 29
4. Nicky Hayden Repsol Honda Team 1:35.975 + 0.455 25
5. Randy de Puniet LCR Honda MotoGP 1:35.985 + 0.465 28
6. Colin Edwards Tech 3 Yamaha 1:36.278 + 0.758 23
7. Jorge Lorenzo Fiat Yamaha Team 1:36.532 + 1.012 26
8. Chris Vermeulen Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1:36.768 + 1.248 25
9. Shinya Nakano San Carlo Honda Gresini 1:36.804 + 1.284 25
10. Sylvain Guintoli Alice Team 1:36.823 + 1.303 26
11. Andrea Dovizioso JiR Team Scot MotoGP 1:36.899 + 1.379 22
12. Alex de Angelis San Carlo Honda Gresini 1:36.948 + 1.428 24
13. James Toseland Tech 3 Yamaha 1:36.978 + 1.458 26
14. Toni Elias Alice Team 1:37.287 + 1.767 25
15. John Hopkins Kawasaki Racing Team 1:37.643 + 2.123 20
16. Anthony West Kawasaki Racing Team 1:37.793 + 2.273 26
17. Marco Melandri Ducati Marlboro Team 1:38.726 + 3.206 25