Local favorite Makoto Tamada will start today's Grand Prix of Japan from the front of the grid after posting the fastest time in qualifying yesterday and scoring his second straight MotoGP pole position.
In the second qualifying session at the 4.8km Motegi circuit, Japan's Tamada clocked a time of 1:46.673 on a Honda ahead of Suzuki rider John Hopkins of the US, who had a time of 1:47.230 from Friday's first qualifying.
PHOTO: EPA
World champion Valentino Rossi was third on a Yamaha with a time of 1:47.275 and will join Tamada and Hopkins up front for Sunday's race.
"Fortunately, we had a great lap time yesterday," said Rossi. "We had a few problems with the bike in the last 20 minutes today. I think it was with the break and I'm sure we can get that cleared up before tomorrow."
Tamada also had the pole position for the Sept. 5 Portuguese Grand Prix, but finished second to Rossi.
Italian Max Biaggi, who won this event last year, was fourth fastest with a time of 1:47.401.
The Grand Prix of Japan is the 12th of 16 events in the MotoGP championship.
Rossi leads the overall standings with 209 points, 29 head of Spain's Sete Gibernau. Biaggi is third with 158 points.
Gibernau finished 13th after two qualifying sessions with a time of 1:48.107.
In the 250cc class, Spain's Daniel Pedrosa grabbed pole position with a time of 1:52.137 on a Honda. Pedrosa will be joined by Japan's Hiroshi Aoyama, who clocked a time of 1:52.366 also on a Honda, and France's Randy De Puniet, who was third on an Aprilia with a time of 1:52.453.
In the 125cc, the lead went to Italy's Andrea Dovizioso, who timed 1:58.385 on his Honda. Fellow Italian Roberto Locatelli, riding an Aprilia, came second clocking 1:58.427, while Australia's Casey Stoner on a KTM secured the third position with a time of 1:58.576.
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