Pedrosa will head the grid for Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix

Pedrosa took his Honda around the Jerez circuit in one minute, 39.402 seconds, with Yamaha's Rossi on 1:39.453.

The front row was completed by Checa, with Yamaha's Colin Edwards in fourth.

Pedrosa said: "It was very tight but luckily we got the top time and that is good because the start here at Jerez is so important."

606: DEBATE The race is going to be an absolute cracker and I for one won't be missing it for anything VY

Australian Casey Stoner, who notched his maiden MotoGP win on his works Ducati in the season-opening Qatar Grand Prix, was fifth quickest.

American Suzuki rider John Hopkins was also on the second row while Japan's Shinya Nakano, Spaniard Toni Elias and Italian Marco Melandri made up row three.

World champion Nicky Hayden was 11th fastest, with less than half a second between the top 12 riders.

Last year's Jerez winner Loris Capirossi struggled in 15th spot.

Spanish Grand Prix qualifying

1. Dani Pedrosa (Spa) Honda 1 minute 39.402 seconds
2. Valentino Rossi (Ita) Yamaha 1:39.453
3. Carlos Checa (Spa) Honda 1:39.460
4. Colin Edwards (USA) Yamaha 1:39.486
5. Casey Stoner (Aus) Ducati 1:39.524
6. John Hopkins (USA) Suzuki 1:39.625
7. Shinya Nakano (Jap) Honda 1:39.632
8. Toni Elias (Spa) Honda 1:39.660
9. Marco Melandri (Ita) Honda 1:39.722
10. Kenny Roberts Jr. (USA) KR212V 1:39.727