Barros fastest - but Kenny still on target.
Brazil's Alex Barros claimed the provisional 500cc pole position at his home Grand Prix after setting a time of 1min 51.87secs to hold off Max Biaggi by 0.155sec.
Valentino Rossi who needs to win in Rio to keep his championship hopes alive, had been the pace setter in the rain disrupted opening practice session, but dropped to third in the dry qualifying conditions. Barros meanwhile found the extra speed necessary to put his Emerson Honda on pole, to the delight of the local fans.
Brazil's Alex Barros claimed the provisional 500cc pole position at his home Grand Prix after setting a time of 1min 51.87secs to hold off Max Biaggi by 0.155sec.
Valentino Rossi who needs to win in Rio to keep his championship hopes alive, had been the pace setter in the rain disrupted opening practice session, but dropped to third in the dry qualifying conditions. Barros meanwhile found the extra speed necessary to put his Emerson Honda on pole, to the delight of the local fans.
Championship leader Kenny Roberts, conscious of the need to finish sixth or above to clinch the championship, remains on course to do so with a provisional front row start in fourth position.
Biaggi's Marlboro Yamaha team-mate Carlos Checa was unable to repeat his earlier practice pace and eventually slipped to twelfth.
Full results to follow.....
Leading provisional qualifying positions - GP500.
1. Alex Barros 1min 51.87secs
2. Max Biaggi 1min 52.02secs
3. Valentino Rossi 1min 52.24secs
4. Kenny Roberts 1min 52.29secs
5. Loris Capirossi 1min 52.75secs
6. Gary McCoy 1minn 52.84secs
7. Sete Gibernau 1min 53.00secs
8. Norrick Abe 1min 53.24secs
