Gibernau is seeking his third straight victory in Italy

Gibernau could not improve on his record lap of one minute 49.553 seconds he set during Friday's first session but nor could any of his rivals.

Nicky Hayden, Gibernau's Honda team-mate, finished second while Yamaha's Valentino Rossi was third.

Gibernau leads the championship with 66 points, 10 clear of Max Biaggi.

Hayden made the biggest move in Saturday's session, jumping from seventh place with a lap of 1:49.922 in the very last minute of qualifying.

"I'm very happy - it was a big performance," said Hayden.

"I'll have to back it up on Sunday."

The session was suspended for 20 minutes after Kurtis Roberts crashed badly at the Arrabbiata corner.

Roberts escaped unhurt but his Proton bike looked to have been written off.

In the 250cc category, Argentina's Sebastian Porto claimed pole position, beating defending world champion Daniel Pedrosa into second place.

Porto's time of 1:53.691 was enough to bring him home ahead of the pack with current championship leader Randy De Puniet back in third.

Jenkner will start from the front in Sunday's race

In the 125cc, Germany's Steve Jenkner took the first pole of his career.

Jenkner, riding an Aprilia, finished in a time of 1:58.575 seconds to overcome Casey Stoner and Mattia Pasini's challenge.

Stoner was edged into second with a time of 1:58.877, while Pasini finished in third place on the grid.

Championship leader Andrea Dovizioso of Italy was fourth.

MotoGP final qualifying times:

1. Sete Gibernau (Spain) Honda 1 minute 49.553 seconds
2. Nicky Hayden (US) Honda 1:49.922
3. Valentino Rossi (Italy) Yamaha 1:49.926
4. Alex Barros (Brazil) Honda 1:50.058
5. Marco Melandri (Italy) Yamaha 1:50.315
6. Max Biaggi (Italy) Honda 1:50.445
7. Makoto Tamada (Japan) Honda 1:50.584
8. Loris Capirossi (Italy) Ducati 1:50.699
9. Kenny Roberts (US) Suzuki 1:50.736
10. Shinya Nakano (Japan) Kawasaki 1:50.807

250cc final qualifying times:

1. Sebastian Porto (Argentina) Aprilia 1 minute 53.691 seconds
2. Daniel Pedrosa (Spain) Honda 1:53.979
3. Randy De Puniet (France) Aprilia 1:54.180
4. Toni Elias, Spain (Honda) 1:54.635
5. Alex De Angelis (San Marino) Aprilia 1:54.643
6. Manuel Poggiali (San Marino) Aprilia 1:54.670
7. Franco Battaini (Italy) Aprilia 1:54.815
8. Roberto Rolfo (Italy) Honda 1:55.157
9. Fonsi Nieto (Spain) Aprilia 1:55.158
10. Joan Olive (Spain) Aprilia 1:55.502

125cc final qualifying times:

1. Steve Jenkner (Germany) Aprilia 1 minute 58.575 seconds
2. Casey Stoner (Australia) KTM 1:58.877
3. Mattia Pasini (Italy) Aprilia 1:58.941
4. Andrea Dovizioso (Italy) Honda 1:58.964
5. Roberto Locatelli (Italy) Aprilia 1:59.132
6. Mika Kallio (Finland) KTM 1:59.260
7. Hector Barbera (Spain) Aprilia 1:59.324
8. Jorge Lorenzo (Spain) Derbi 1:59.341
9. Mike Di Meglio (France) Aprilia 1:59.387
10. Fabrizio Lai (Italy) Gilera 1:59.451