Yamaha's Max Biaggi pipped fellow Italian Valentino Rossi to pole position for Saturday's Brazilian Grand Prix.

Rossi, who clocked 1:50.827, has dominated the season with nine wins in 11 races and can clinch the title if he takes 11 points more than Japanese team-mate Tohru Ukawa.

The Italian also won the final 500cc championship last season before the category was opened up to the more powerful four-stroke machines for this year.

Ukawa's slim chances of overhauling Rossi took a further knock when he could manage only a place on the third row.

Britain's Jeremy McWilliams on a Proton and Australia's Garry McCoy on a Yamaha completed the front row.

"I've given myself a tremendous opportunity and all I need is to make sure I get off the line quickly," said McWilliams.

"That was good fun and it was a matter of getting the opportunity and the right tyre."

Leading grid positions:

1. Max Biaggi (Italy) Yamaha 1 minute 50.568 seconds
2. Valentino Rossi (Italy) Honda 1:50.827
3. Jeremy McWilliams (Britain) Proton 1:50.862
4. Garry McCoy (Australia) Yamaha 1:50.927
5. Carlos Checa (Spain) Yamaha 1:50.978
6. Daijiro Kato (Japan) Honda 1:51.066
7. Olivier Jacque (France) Yamaha 1:51.160
8. Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Netherlands) Honda 1:51.197
9. Tohru Ukawa (Japan) Honda 1:51.211
10. Nobuatsu Aoki (Japan) Proton 1:52.287