Rossi takes pole at Assen in record time

The Yamaha rider, who leads Spanish team mate Jorge Lorenzo by a point in the standings, smashed Australian Casey Stoner's 2012 pole record with a lap of one minute 32.627 seconds.

(Reuters)

The pole, on a sunny afternoon at the Dutch TT, was the 61st of Rossi's career and first since last season's final round in Valencia.

"Assen is always special for me, because I have great memories here. I have won here in the past and a lot of important races in my career took place at this circuit. I love this track, because it's fantastic," said Rossi.

Suzuki's Aleix Espargaro was second fastest while world champion and fellow Spaniard Marc Marquez, on a Honda, completed the front row for Saturday's race. Lorenzo starts in eighth place.

(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Ken Ferris)