Simoncelli beats Barbera out in 250cc qualifying face-off

250cc World Championship leader Marco Simoncelli took his second consecutive pole at Brno in a wet qualifying shootout, leaving the polemen in all three categories as the same as those who started from their respective top spots in Germany (the last time MotoGP, 250cc and 125cc riders were together at an event) The Italian had the last word with a 2´17.306 lap of Brno, the quickest of all the quarter-litre riders.

Simoncelli had a late run-off that left him tangled up with his Metis Gilera machine, but continued unfazed for his hot lap the next time around.

It had looked as if provisional poleman Hector Barbera would confirm one of the first two places on the grid, as he exchanged the advantage in the session with Simoncelli. However, a late dash from Alex Debon left the experienced Spaniard ahead of Team Toth Aprilia´s Barbera on the front row, with Mattia Pasini rounding off the line.

Thomas Luthi and Julian Simon put further bikes between series leader Simoncelli and title challenger Mika Kallio, as they added their name to the second row completed by JiR Team Scot´s Yuki Takahashi. Home rider Lukas Pesek features on the third line.