Capirossi set a new lap record in securing pole in Japan

Capirossi clocked 1min 45.724sec, 0.639 seconds faster than the lap time he set last year to clinch pole.

World champion Valentino Rossi secured second on his Yamaha to boost his hopes to close the gap on Championship leader Nicky Hayden, who will start seventh.

Marco Melandri made it an all-Italian front row after clinching third spot.

We've been able to work on the setting with various different things and then mix everything together to find the very best race set-up Valentino Rossi

American Repsol Honda rider Hayden currently leads Rossi by 21 points, but that lead has been slashed by the Italian's resurgence in recent weeks.

Rossi has been hit by a run of spills and tyre and engine troubles this season, but has still managed five victories.

And the 27-year-old lauded his team's performance after securing a front-row start for the fourth straight race.

"I am very happy to be on the front row again," he said.

"My Yamaha M1 has worked well from the start here so we've been able to work on the setting with various different things and then mix everything together to find the very best race set-up.

"Now it seems we're in good shape. The bike worked very well also with the qualifying tyre and I had very good grip."

Starting from seventh means Hayden, 25, faces another tough task to maintain his record of having scored points in every race so far.

British rider James Ellison was 19th fastest on his Tech 3 Yamaha.

Japanese MotoGP qualifying times: