Sete Gibernau led an emphatic Honda response to potential Yamaha domination at the end of the first qualifying session for the Gran Premi Gauloises de Catalunya this afternoon, posting a pole record lap of 1'42.934 to take front spot on the provisional grid for his home race.

The Spaniard's factory colleague Max Biaggi also came up with a hot lap as the chequered flag was prepared after crashing earlier in the session, as did the Italian's team-mate Makoto Tamada, bumping Yamaha pair Valentino Rossi and Carlos Checa off the front row after Checa had led the way for much of the session. However, neither Biaggi nor Tamada could get near Gibernau, who took top spot by a comfortable 0.629 second margin.

"I wasn't expecting to get into the 1'42s here, but once again the times are coming easily to me because everything is in the right place," said Gibernau, who crashed out of the morning free practice, when he also set the quickest time.

"We had a slight setback this morning because we didn't quite have the front set-up right but the team did a great job and on my final two outings I found a really good feeling. I did a good time on the race tyre and on the qualifier it was sensational. The time gives me the chance to get some work done tomorrow and that's how I like it - checking the feeling I've got and getting a good rhythm together for the race."

Honda rider Nicky Hayden split the second row on his last lap, qualifying fifth fastest behind Rossi but ahead of Checa. The American's team-mate Alex Barros was seventh fastest, heading up the third row from Kawasaki rider Shinya Nakano, who rode with a slightly bruised back following his spectacular crash at Mugello last Sunday, and Marco Melandri on the Yamaha.

Troy Bayliss contested the top positions throughout the session before dropping back to tenth on his Ducati, one place ahead of team-mate Loris Capirossi, whilst there was also positive progress at Suzuki, with both Kenny Roberts and John Hopkins competing for the second row before eventually qualifying twelfth and thirteenth respectively.

Dani Pedrosa continued his sensational start to his rookie 250cc campaign with provisional pole position for his home race after an entertaining duel with Randy De Puniet. The young Spaniard, who won the 125cc event here last year on his way to the title, responded to a late charge from the series leader with a last lap effort of 1'46.744, dislodging De Puniet from top spot as the Frenchman suffered a mechanical problem.

Sebastian Porto followed up Sunday's victory at Mugello with the third fastest time today, joining the provisional front row along with Toni Elías. Reigning World Champion Manuel Poggiali ran off track in the closing stages and was unable to threaten a second row made up of Alex De Angelis, Franco Battiani, Fonsi Nieto and Roby Rolfo.

Jorge Lorenzo smashed the pole record to take the front spot on the provisional 125cc grid by almost a second from closest rival Andrea Dovizioso. Series leader Dovizioso was 0.968 seconds off the young Spaniard, whose time of 1'50.497 was over half a second inside compatriot Pablo Nieto's previous pole record set last season. Nieto crashed out in the late push for pole but escaped uninjured, his best time up to that point enough for a provisional front row spot in third, just ahead of Roberto Locatelli.

Friday Qualifying Results