Valentino Rossi took pole position for the first race of the MotoGp season, Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez. The world champion recorded a time of one minute 39.419 seconds on his Gauloises Yamaha, half a second ahead of Movistar Honda rider Sete Gibernau.
Gibernau's team-mate Max Melandri lines up on the front row in third, while Repsol Honda rider Nicky Hayden was fourth fastest.
Championship contender Max Biaggi was a disappointing 16th quickest.
Britain's Shane Byrne will start the race in 20th on his new Roberts KTM.
And compatriot James Ellison starts 21st for struggling Blata WCM.
Jerez qualifying results:
1. Valentino Rossi (Italy) Yamaha 1:39.419
2. Sete Gibernau (Spain) Honda 1:39.915
3. Marco Melandri (Italy) Honda 1:40.179
4. Nicky Hayden (United States) Honda 1:40.465
5. Shinya Nakano (Japan) Kawasaki 1:40.542
6. Loris Capirossi (Italy) Ducati 1:40.648
7. Makoto Tamada (Japan) Honda 1:40.707
8. Alex Barros (Brazil) Honda 1:40.720
9. Troy Bayliss (Australia) Honda 1:40.774
10. Alex Hofmann (Germany) Kawasaki 1:40.812
MMIX
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