Max Biaggi fired his Yamaha M1 bike into provisional pole position for this weekend's Cinzano Rio Grand Prix, for once the talking point was not about the Italian's supreme ability to set flying laps at breakneck speeds, but about the simultaneous announcement that the Roman had signed a contract for three years with the Pramac Honda Racing team to begin from next season. Just 0.012 seconds separate Biaggi from his great rival Valentino Rossi, and this result is a great shot in the arm for the rider, as he aims to finish his season with Yamaha on a high.

"It feels great to do this well on the first day of qualifying, the track makes it difficult to control the rear, but I managed to do so," smiled Biaggi. With under one second covering the first thirteen riders today, he added, "I have focused on getting the best out of my strongest parts of the track, because I know that tomorrow everyone will improve their times. My team are working really hard and tomorrow I aim to go out there to get pole for certain."

In a statement released earlier Biaggi stated that the deal he had signed, 'made my dream come true', as he returns to the factory with whom he battled so hard to claim second-place in the championship during his first season in the blue riband class. He will be on the same machine as Rossi next season, who this weekend could wrap up the MotoGP title if he were to score eleven points more than his team-mate Ukawa and Biaggi were to finish behind him. Rossi was second ahead of the other M1 of Carlos Checa, while Alex Barros claimed fourth place at his home circuit.

Yamaha had a good day in general, as Norick Abe, Olivier Jacque and Shinya Nakano all made the second row, with Nobuatsu Aoki pushing the latter back into eighth position. They were in front of the RCVs of Ukawa and Kato, who finished eleventh and thirteenth respectively, but it must be remembered that the two Japanese Honda riders will be expected to improve, this being the first time they have ridden at the track on the 2002 machine. The third row was filled by Roberts, McCoy, Ukawa and McWilliams, with Kato, Vd Goorbergh, Capirossi and Harada behind.

Toni Elias took provisional top spot in the 250 class, having lost the lead with just 15 seconds of the forty-five minute session remaining. As Melandri surpassed his previous time and went into first, Elias set off on the fast lap that would the decide the top order after the chequered flag had ended the session, with his team-mate Fonsi Nieto finishing in third behind himself and Melandri. Nieto is hoping to close the gap on Melandri this weekend after a rousing win in Estoril which will certainly give the Italian something to think about despite him holding a solid 32-point lead. Sebastian Porto rounded off the front four positions, the Argentinean in search of his fourth consecutive podium on Saturday.   Australia's Casey Stoner was 12th quickest in the first 250 qualifying session.

Manuel Poggiali returned to the scene of his World Championship crowning this weekend with only one thing on his mind - making up ground on current standings leader Arnaud Vincent to stand a good chance of bringing the title back to San Marino for the second successive year. Poggiali was quickest in the 125 class just ahead of the Frenchman, who carries a 23-point advantage into this Brazilian race, with the only other real candidate for the title, Dani Pedrosa, back in fifth. Pablo Nieto finished third quickest, while Hungary's Gabor Talmacsi provisionally lines up on the front row after he made waves around the track with a superb final lap.
 

1. Biaggi 1m51.854
2. Rossi 1m51.866
3. Checa 1m51.975
4. Barros 1m51.998
5. Abe 1m52.028
6. Jacque 1m52.122
7. Aoki 1m52.158
8. Nakano 1m52.343
9. Roberts 1m52.369
10. McCoy 1m52.490
11. Ukawa 1m52.498
12. McWilliams 1m52.552
13. Kato 1m52.659
14. Goorbergh 1m52.938
15. Capirossi 1m53.016
16. Harada 1m53.240
17. Gibernau 1m53.258
18. Laconi 1m53.380
19. Hopkins 1m53.563
20. Cardoso

• Sep 19 - MotoGP - Rio - First Qualifying - Suzuki Report - Yamaha Report -