Gabor Talmacsi - who will move to the 250cc class in 2009 - has taken the final 125cc pole position of the 2008 season during an exciting second qualifying session at Valencia.

Friday's wet weather times counted for nothing during the damp Saturday session, in which pole pace improved with almost each and every lap.

2007 world champion Talmacsi was fastest through the middle stages, then slipped down to fourth before putting his Aspar Aprilia back on top with five minutes to go.

The Hungarian was again denied by Nicolas Terol as the final minute began, but Talmacsi made his last qualifying lap on a 125 one of his best by blasting 0.598sec clear of the field - a margin local star Sergio Gadea trimmed to 0.190sec moments later for an Aspar Aprilia one-two.

Completing Sunday's front row will be provisional pole sitter Simone Corsi and his Jack and Jones Aprilia team-mate Terol, with Bradley Smith heading row two on his final qualifying appearance for Polaris world Aprilia.

American Stevie Bonsey will start sixth for Degraaf Aprilia, with recently crowned world champion Mike di Meglio seventh for Ajo Motorsport Derbi.

Pol Espargaro fell heavily from his Derbi after 12 minutes and appeared to be tagged by Esteve Rabat as he tumbled down the track. Espargaro came to rest conscious, but clearly in pain, on the side of the track and the session was briefly stopped to allow his safe extraction.


Final qualifying - Valencia:

1. Talmacsi (Aprilia) 1min 41.451sec
2. Gadea (Aprilia) +0.190sec
3. Corsi (Aprilia) +0.500sec
4. Terol (Aprilia) +0.598sec
5. Smith (Aprilia) +0.644sec
6. Bonsey (Aprilia) +0.648sec
7. di Meglio (Derbi) +0.712sec
8. Iannone (Aprilia) +0.786sec
9. Aergerter (Derbi) +1.052sec
10. Bradl (Aprilia) +1.138sec

13. Webb (Aprilia) +1.457sec
17. Redding (Aprilia) +1.682sec