Toseland had not been on pole for three years

Toseland was fastest around the Misano circuit as championship leader Troy Bayliss struggled on his Ducati Xerox.

Toseland's lap of one minute 33.833 seconds edged out Australian defending champion Troy Corser.

Third was another Australian Andrew Pitt (Yamaha), with compatriot Steve Martin completing the front row.

Britain's Chris Walker was fifth fastest on the PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki, Japan's Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha) was sixth and Australian Bayliss seventh.

Bayliss could not convert his dominance of the first two qualifying sessions into a fast Superpole lap.

He said: "That was a messy lap. I nearly lost the front and then in the second last chicane almost hit the ripple-strip."

Toseland was pleased with the speed he had shown on his fastest lap.

He said: "I am very well prepared for tomorrow and need to make a good start. I'm happy to be on pole and I love the track here at Misano.

"It's been three years since my last pole position, at Magny Cours. I'm looking forward to tomorrow but I know it will be hard work out there."