Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix Sunday Guide

- Casey Stoner will become only the second rider of the four-stroke MotoGP era to start from pole at five successive races – the other being Valentino Rossi. Stoner has had six wins and a third from the last seven races he has started on pole.

- If Stoner wins the race and sets the fastest lap he will become the first rider since Giacomo Agostini more than 35 years ago to win four successive premier-class races from pole whilst also setting the fastest lap of the race.

- The top thirteen riders on the grid have lapped faster than the previous pole position record set last year by Stoner. The World Champion´s pole position time is 1.592 seconds faster than last year´s record.

- Laguna Seca is one of only three circuits on this year´s calendar where Valentino Rossi has not won previously in the premier-class, the others being Misano and Indianapolis. Second on the grid equals his previous best qualifying position at Laguna Seca which he achieved in 2006 when he went on to finish third.

- Nicky Hayden starts from the front row for only the second time this year – the previous occasion was at Catalunya. Hayden is the last American rider to win a MotoGP race, at Laguna Seca two years ago.

- Jorge Lorenzo, who is making his debut at the Laguna Seca circuit, is starting from his best grid position since he qualified fourth in China.

- James Toseland who qualified fifth, is starting from his best grid position since he was second on the grid on his GP debut at the opening race of the year in Qatar.

- Randy de Puniet finished sixth last year at Laguna after qualifying down in 13th place on the grid.

- For the first time this year, Colin Edwards (seventh) will not be starting on either the first or second row of the grid.

- Chris Vermeulen finished second at Laguna Seca last year - his first dry weather podium in MotoGP.

- Andrea Dovizioso has finished in the top five at the last four successive races.

- Toni Elias will be starting from his best grid position (tenth) since he was the eighth fastest qualifier in Malaysia last year.