The GP circus visits Japan again this weekend – this time to the Twin Ring Motegi circuit (which, like Suzuka, is owned by Honda). Max Biaggi (Yamaha) took another pole position with a blistering lap in dry conditions, relegating newly-crowned champion Kenny Roberts (Suzuki) to second spot on the grid.
500 class rookie phenom Valentino Rossi (Honda), who has announced his intention to win this weekend, will start from the second row in fifth position.
The Honda of Daijiro Katoh will start from pole position in the 250 class, with the front row filled out by Marco Melandri (Aprilia), Shinya Nakano (Yamaha), and Tohru Ukawa (Honda).
500cc Qualifying Results
- Max Biaggi (Yamaha) 1:49.954
- Kenny Roberts Jr. (Suzuki) 1:50.140
- Loris Capirossi (Honda) 1:50.286
- Alex Barros (Honda) 1:50.515
- Valentino Rossi (Honda) 1:50.797
- Norick Abe (Yamaha) 1:50.926
- Carlos Checa (Yamaha) 1:51.020
- Garry McCoy (Yamaha) 1:51.070
- Tadayuki Okada (Honda) 1:51.159
- Nobuatsu Aoki (Suzuki) 1:51.177
250cc Qualifying Results
- Daijiro Katoh (Honda) 1:52.574
- Marco Melandri (Aprilia) 1:52.934
- Shinya Nakano (Yamaha) 1:52.959
- Tohru Ukawa (Honda) 1:53.440
- Olivier Jacque (Yamaha) 1:53.451
- Franco Battaini (Aprilia) 1:53.502
- Ralf Waldmann (Aprilia) 1:53.534
- Alex Debon (Aprilia) 1:53.917
- Anthony West (Honda) 1:54.304
- Sebastian Porto (Yamaha) 1:54.461
