Tetsuya Harada came out on top in a thrilling battle for 250 pole with Daijiro Katoh. Neither rider looked likely to improve their provisional qualifying time until after the chequered flag was waved, with first Katoh and then Harada launching an incredible last lap attack to seal the front two slots on the starting grid and ensure an enthralling Japanese head-to-head in tomorrow's much anticipated race.
"I'm very happy to be on pole in Japan, and I want to win tomorrow," said Harada, who won the 1993 250 World Championship with Yamaha. "But I'm not too well, I've got the flu, so I hope the doctors can help me for the race, so I can keep a good pace from start to finish.
Melandri and Mc
Williams held their provisional front row positions in third and fourth place respectively and should be in the podium shake-up, whilst Alzamora and Nieto will look to stay with the lead group from fifth and sixth on the grid. De Puniet and Rolfo complete the second row in seventh and eighth.
