(Adds 250cc pole)
LE MANS, France, May 17 (Reuters) - MotoGP championship leader Dani Pedrosa of Spain put his Honda on pole for Sunday's French Grand Prix with his last lap in Saturday's qualifying session.
On the least technical circuit of the season, Pedrosa clocked a best time of one minute 32.647 to beat Yamaha's American Colin Edwards by 0.127 seconds and take his 10th pole in the top category.
Australian world champion Casey Stoner was third on his Ducati with Italian Valentino Rossi fourth on his Yamaha.
Spain's Jorge Lorenzo, also on a Yamaha, took fifth place despite having fractured both of his ankles in a crash during free practice for the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai two weeks ago.
In the 250cc category, Alex Debon of Spain won pole on an Aprilia after beating compatriot Alvaro Bautista, also riding an Aprilia, by 0.018 seconds.
In the 125cc category, Spaniard Sergio Gadea riding an Aprilia took pole position ahead of Britain's Bradley Smith, also on an Aprilia.
(Writing by Julien Pretot in Paris, editing by Alan Baldwin) ((julien.pretot@thomsonreuters.com; RM: julien.pretot.reuters.com@reuters.net; +33 1 4949 5370; For the latest Reuters Premier League and international football news see: http://football.uk.reuters.com))
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Keywords: MOTORCYCLING PRIX/POLE
LE MANS, France, May 17 (Reuters) - MotoGP championship leader Dani Pedrosa of Spain put his Honda on pole for Sunday's French Grand Prix with his last lap in Saturday's qualifying session.
On the least technical circuit of the season, Pedrosa clocked a best time of one minute 32.647 to beat Yamaha's American Colin Edwards by 0.127 seconds.
Australian world champion Casey Stoner was third on his Ducati with Italian Valentino Rossi fourth on his Yamaha.
Spain's Jorge Lorenzo, also on a Yamaha, took fifth place despite having fractured both of his ankles in a crash during free practice for the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai two weeks ago.
In the 125cc category, Spaniard Sergio Gadea riding an Aprilia took pole position ahead of Britain's Bradley Smith, also on an Aprilia.
(Writing by Julien Pretot in Paris, editing by Alan Baldwin) ((julien.pretot@thomsonreuters.com; RM: julien.pretot.reuters.com@reuters.net; +33 1 4949 5370; For the latest Reuters Premier League and international football news see: http://football.uk.reuters.com))
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Keywords: MOTORCYCLING PRIX/POLE
SYDNEY, May 17 (Reuters) - The New South Wales Waratahs beat their Australian arch-rivals the Queensland Reds 18-11 at Brisbane on Saturday to seal their Super 14 semi-final place.
The Waratahs scored two unanswered tries to lead 12-3 at the break then added two penalties in the second half to reach the last four for the third time in the last four seasons.
They faced the prospect of missing out if they had failed to win but ensured a regular season second place finish behind New Zealand's Canterbury Crusaders to secure a home semi-final in Sydney next weekend against the eventual third-placed team.
"It wasn't pretty tonight but we got away with a win," NSW captain Phil Waugh said in a televised interview.
"We knew it was going to be tough and we've got a lot to work on but it's great to be heading back to Sydney."
Queensland, who were already out of the running for a spot in the playoffs, scored a last-minute consolation try through left wing Peter Hynes to likely end the season in 12th place after finishing bottom last year.
"The boys put in a big effort but we just didn't come away the points because we didn't hold on to the ball long enough," Queensland skipper James Horwill said.
"We've made a lot of improvement this year but we're still not where we want to be so there's a lot of work still to do."
The Waratahs seized control of the match when Dean Mumm crashed over for a 21st minute try after a sustained buildup. Teenaged flyhalf Kurtley Beale landed the conversion after missing two earlier penalty attempts.
Queensland replied with a penalty from fullback Clinton Schifcofske but the Waratahs struck a vital blow when Wycliff Palu burst through a hole and scored on the stroke of halftime.
The Reds closed to within six points early in the second half with a drop goal from flyhalf Berrick Barnes but NSW pulled clear when Beale booted two penalties before Hynes' consolation.
(Reporting by Julian Linden; Editing by Padraic Halpin) ((julian.linden@thomsonreuters.com; +61409121090; Reuters Messaging: julian.linden.reuters.com@reuters.net.; For the latest Reuters Premier League and international football news see: http://football.uk.reuters.com/))
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Keywords: RUGBY SUPER/QUEENSLAND
May 17 (Reuters) - New South Wales Waratahs (Australia) beat Queensland Reds (Australia) 18-11 (halftime 12-3) in a Super 14 match at Brisbane on Saturday.
Scorers:
Queensland Reds - Try: Peter Hynes; Penalty: Clinton Schifcofske; Drop goal: Berrick Barnes.
New South Wales Waratahs - Tries: Dean Mumm, Wycliff Palu; Conversion: Kurtley Beale; Penalties: Beale (2). (Reporting by Julian Linden; Editing by Neil Maidment) ((julian.linden@thomsonreuters.com; +61409121090; Reuters Messaging: julian.linden.reuters.com@reuters.net.; For the latest Reuters Premier League and international football news see: http://football.uk.reuters.com/))
Keywords: RUGBY SUPER/QUEENSLAND RESULT
WELLINGTON, May 17 (Reuters) - The struggling Otago Highlanders upset Super 14 leaders the Canterbury Crusaders 26-14 in the final round of matches at Christchurch on Saturday.
The Highlanders scored three first-half tries then defended superbly to register only their third win of a disappointing season.
"Hopefully this is the game that everyone remembers, the players and the supporters, and hopefully everyone will want to come back next year," Otago captain Craig Newby said in a televised interview.
The Crusaders suffered just their second loss of the year but are still guaranteed of finishing the regular season on top of the standings.
They will host the fourth-placed team in next week's sudden-death semi-finals. "We have got next week to look forward to but we're going to have to be a whole lot better if we're going to be competitive," Canterbury skipper Richie McCaw said.
FLYING START
The Crusaders made a flying start to the all-Kiwi match when hooker Corey Flynn scored in the fifth minute off a lineout but spent the rest of the half defending after making a series of uncharacteristic errors.
The Highlanders drew level when wing Paul Williams intercepted a crossfield kick from Canterbury flyhalf Dan Carter then opened up a commanding 23-14 halftime lead when flanker Adam Thomson and scrumhalf Toby Morland added tries.
Mike Delany scored the only points of the second half with a lone penalty, his third of the game, to provide his side with the perfect end to the season and give the Crusaders plenty to work on before the playoffs.
The Crusaders were lucky to get away with a win after a scrappy performance in their previous match against Queensland and McCaw had hoped for an improvement on that.
"We thought we had a good wake-up call last week but a good Highlanders side put us under pressure and we made mistakes," he said.
"We got a bit frantic. We perhaps tried to play in our own half a wee bit." (Reporting by Julian Linden in Sydney. Editing by Padraic Halpin) ((julian.linden@thomsonreuters.com; +61409121090; Reuters Messaging: julian.linden.reuters.com@reuters.net.; For the latest Reuters Premier League and international football news see: http://football.uk.reuters.com/))
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Keywords: RUGBY SUPER/CANTERBURY
Next: Rugby-Canterbury Crusaders 14 Otago Highlanders 26 - Super 14