250: de Rosa claims debut pole at Phillip Island.
Raffaele de Rosa claimed an unexpected first 250cc pole on his last lap of qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island.
The Italian - riding in his first season in 250 after four years with no podiums and only one pole in 125 - snatched pole from fellow Italian, and reigning 250cc world champion, Marco Simoncelli by 0.225sec.
Raffaele de Rosa claimed an unexpected first 250cc pole on his last lap of qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island.
The Italian - riding in his first season in 250 after four years with no podiums and only one pole in 125 - snatched pole from fellow Italian, and reigning 250cc world champion, Marco Simoncelli by 0.225sec.
de Rosa's Scot Honda team-mate and title leader Hiroshi Aoyama jumped from sixth to third on his last lap, with Alex Debon completing the front row in fourth.
Hector Barbera, fastest on Friday despite a painful highside, will head row two with Aoyama's nearest title rival Alvaro Bautista managing only tenth position for Aspar Aprilia.
In a repeat of Friday practice, a heavy rain shower doused the seaside circuit at the start of the quarter-litre session - prompting numerous riders to fall - before conditions improved once again.
Qualifying - Phillip Island:
1. de Rosa (Honda) 1min 33.389sec
2. Simoncelli (Gilera) +0.225sec
3. H. Aoyama (Honda) +0.244sec
4. Debon (Aprilia) +0.497sec
5. Barbera (Aprilia) +0.539sec
6. di Meglio (Aprilia) +0.641sec
7. Wilairot (Honda) +0.725sec
8. Pasini (Aprilia) +0.803sec
9. Faubel (Honda) +0.896sec
10. Bautista (Aprilia) +1.199sec
