But pole didn't come too easy for Rossi, who this morning suffered his second tumble of the weekend. The Italian youngster ran too wide on the entry to Degner 2 and went down heavily, adding to the bruises sustained in a high-speed crash during yesterday's opening practice session. Today's accident badly damaged one of his RCV's leaving him restricted to one machine for the afternoon's all-important final qualifier.

"The last two days have been difficult," said Rossi, who suffered more severe cuts and bruises in yesterday's 193kmh get-off. "I have to thank Dr Costa for helping me to get back into shape. This afternoon's session was good. We were all pushing really hard and I'm very pleased to be starting from pole. The lap times we're doing are incredible and show that all the work we've done over the winter is paying off. But everyone is so fast here, with the four-strokes and two-strokes very close together, that the winter tests are going to feel like a holiday compared to the racing!"

During the winter Capirossi had been worried by Rossi's ultra-quick testing pace but today confirmed that his latest-spec NSR500 is still a weapon capable of victory. "To be honest, one month ago I'd never imagined starting the season like this, although I know very well that practice is one thing and racing is something very different," he said. "I'm very happy with today's result, the bike is beautifully balanced and running perfectly."

HRC test rider Itoh, who just outpaced Carlos Checa (Yamaha), was another rider surprised by his own performance. "I never expected to make the front row, so I'm very excited, although I expect the race to be much more frantic!" said the former Japanese champion who hasn't raced since last year's World Superbike round at Sugo. "I have a lot of experience with this bike and at this track. The RCV is running very well and the tyres I chose were perfect for today's conditions."

Daijiro Katoh (Fortuna Honda Gresini NSR500) came within 0.041 seconds of starting his debut MotoGP race from the front row, ending the session just behind Max Biaggi (Yamaha) and two tenths ahead of Akira Ryo (Suzuki). "My fastest lap was ruined by a gust of wind, I think I was heading for pole that lap," said the reigning 250 champ who ran off into a gravel trap after being blown off course. "I must say I never expected the competition to be so intense in MotoGP but I'm looking forward to my first race on the NSR500. We have good tyres and I think I can challenge up front."

More disappointed was Tohru Ukawa (Repsol Honda Team RC211V), who had been expected to challenge for pole but ended the day 11th. "The bike felt great in yesterday's qualifying session but we had a minor front-end problem this afternoon, and at this level the smallest problem makes a big difference," said the Japanese. "But we know what to do on the set-up for tomorrow, and I'm keen to show a good performance in front of my home fans."

Alex Barros (West Honda Pons NSR500) was 13th, experiencing some minor tyre chatter. Tetsuya Harada (Pramac Honda NSR500) and Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Kanemoto Racing Honda NSR500), both preparing for their first races with their NSRs, were 16th and 20th.

The 250 qualifying session was dominated by Aprilia riders, with Spaniard Fonsi Nieto on pole. Emilio Alzamora (Fortuna Honda Gresini NSR250) was Honda's best man in sixth, though he is fully confident of running up front in tomorrow's race. Team-mate Robby Rolfo (Fortuna Honda Gresini NSR250) qualifying 14th for his debut GP with Honda, just behind wild card riders Daisaku Sakai (Endurance/Toshio Asahi Honda RS250R/W) and Hiroshi Aoyama (Team Harc-Pro Honda RS250R/W).

"I'm happy with the work we've done so far here," said Alzamora. "I feel very good on the bike, we just need to work at some fine tuning. I'm very excited about tomorrow's race. I think it'll be a big battle up front and I'm looking forward to being a part of that."

Rolfo is still adapting to his NSR. "I'm having trouble getting tucked in," said the Italian. "When I'm behind the screen I can't control the bike the way I want to control it."

Sixteen-year-old Daniel Pedrosa (Telefonica Movistar Jr Team Honda RS125R) scored the first pole of the day, going fastest in the 125s, 0.467 seconds ahead of Pablo Nieto (Aprilia). This was Pedrosa's first-ever GP pole and tomorrow he aims for his first-ever GP win. "I'm very happy, especially because that wasn't a flat-out maximum lap," said the Spaniard, whose team-mate Joan Olive (Telefonica Movistar Jr Team Honda RS125R) was 18th. "There was a headwind on the straights but I found a good slipstream which helped. Now I just need to keep my concentration, keep working and keep cool. Today was only qualifying, it's the race that matters. We haven't discussed race strategy yet but I think there'll be a big group up front, so I'll have to try and play the circumstances to my advantage."

Last year's winner Masao Azuma (Liégeois Competition Honda RS125R) was fifth. "There's quite a big gap between me and pole but I don't think that's a problem," said the Japanese. "There'll be a big fight in the race, with everyone running the same kind of lap times. I will aim to plan my charge correctly, as I did last year."

Veteran Nobby Ueda (Semprucci-Angaia Racing Honda RS125R), who won his first GP here way back in 1991, was 11th quickest today. Shuhei Aoyama (Showa Denk Honda RS125R) was the fastest wild card in 20th.

Valentino Rossi, Repsol Honda. Pole position: "That was good. We were all pushing really hard and I am very pleased to start from pole . The lap times are incredible. We test a lot over the winter, and now all the times are so close. Maybe this winter was a holiday! It will be great racing. The 2-strokes and 4-strokes are so close. The last two days have been difficult. I crash yesterday and today and would like to thank Dr Costa for helping me to get into shape."

Loris Capirossi, West Honda Pons. 2nd: "I am very satisfied with this result, and with the fact that the bike is going so well. It is running perfectly and is beautifully balanced. To be honest one month ago I could never have imagined beginning like this, although I know full well that practice is one thing, the race is another. I will go flat out to be at the front tomorrow and will try to maintain my rhythm over the whole race."

Shinichi Itoh, Team HRC. 3rd: "When I came out of the last corner I saw my name in 3rd place, I couldn't believe it myself. Today I tried the tyres I will use for a dry race and they had really good grip. Tomorrow the weather and the race will be chaotic, so I will go carefully so as not to crash."

Daijiro Katoh, Fortuna Honda Gresini. 6th: "It's a pity that a gust of wind ruined my fastest lap, I was forced off line by the wind and into the gravel. On that lap I was heading for pole position, but I can't complain as I showed that with race tyres great lap times are possible. Tomorrow I'll be looking to profit from a good start from the second row and find a gap through the front row. However it was a exciting session, I didn't realise the competition would be so fierce in MotoGP".

Fausto Gresini: Team Manager: "In all the years I've been involved in Racing, I've never seen such a fiercely fought qualifying session. I watched it all from the pit wall, and was enthralled, just like the fans. Daijiro finished in sixth, but only a few tenth from the pole time. Today he showed himself to be a world class rider. When he ran off the track (without damaging the bike) he had the best time. Tomorrow the race will be superb and I'm proud of my rider, I hope that he will have a great race in front of his home crowd"

Tohru Ukawa, Repsol Honda. 11th: "I am actually disappointed. We have tested a lot at Suzuka over the winter and we have made good progress. In the qualifying yesterday and this morning the bike felt great and I was very happy. This afternoon we had a little trouble with the front end and at this level a little problem makes a lot of difference. However, we know what a good set up is for the bike is and I am keen to show a good performance in front of my home fans tomorrow"

Alex Barros, West Honda Pons. 13th: "I improved my time from the first day's practice. The bike is better balanced, although we have experienced chattering. I think that we maintain a good rhythm for the race, but obviously I am not happy with my position on the grid because I know that being on the fourth row is a long way behind. Now we must work towards improving during the race."

Sito Pons: Team Manager: "This has been a thrillingly exciting practice. It's shame that we missed out on the pole with just ten seconds to go, but Capirossi produced a great performance. He never gave up and is now in with a real chance for victory in the race tomorrow. I would like to congratulate Honda and Rossi. Achieving pole position in the first race of the 4-strokes testified to the good work they have done during the winter."

Tetsuya Harada, Pramac Honda. 16th: "The motorcycle is much better than yesterday and I feel more confident. My biggest problem is the "chattering", the vibration of the front wheel which does not give me the possibility of being as fast as I would like to be when entering the curves. Anyway, we are working hard and I hope that we will make more progress tomorrow during the race."

Jurgen van den Goorbergh, Kanemoto Honda. 20th: "We are in a development situation trying to find the best front and rear tyre combination but we don't have the traction, it's our first time at Suzuka with these tyres. The performance here will help us with the next step we have to make. "The bike is perfect, it's a Honda - they don't break. Of course for a rider it's difficult to be in this position but we are working hard and I'm confident we will improve but it will take a few races for us to find the performance we need, that's natural with development work. I'm a ride and riders are never satisfied but I know we will improve after we have the data we need from a few races."

1. Rossi - 2m04.226
2. Capirossi - 2m04.409
3. Itoh - 2m04.435
4. Checa - 2m04.450
5. Biaggi - 2m04.456
6. Katoh - 2m04.491
7. Ryo - 2m04.746
8. Jacque - 2m04.953
9. Nakano - 2m05.098
10. Roberts - 2m05.122
11. Ukawa - 2m05.141
12. Abe - 2m05.145
13. Barros - 2m05.387
14. Gibernau - 2m05.977
15. Aoki - 2m06.094
16. Harada - 2m06.112
17. McCoy - 2m06.193
18. Hopkins - 2m06.302
19. Laconi - 2m06.379
20. Goorbergh - 2m06.731 (Friday Time, only rider not to go quicker today)
21. McWilliams - 2m07.130
22. Riba - Injured yesterday

Saturday Reports - Qualifying 2 - Marlboro Yamaha Report - Red Bull Report - Proton Team KR Report - Suzuki Report - Honda Report

Friday Reports - Qualifying 1 - Marlboro Yamaha - Red Bull Yamaha - Proton Team KR - Telefonica Movistar Suzuki