Moto2: Simoncelli tops first qualifying

The Metis Gilera rider, who was involved in a last-lap crash with Alvaro Bautista at Jerez two weeks ago, faced a major threat from a number of riders during the closely fought qualifying session.

He appeared to have the pole spot sewn up with 10 minutes to go when he put in two quick laps, but with just one minute to go, Spanish Grand Prix winner Mika Kallio pipped him to the top spot.

Simoncelli still had plenty of speed in reserve, though, and was able to get himself back on top on his final lap to edge out his Finnish rival.

Then, in the final seconds, Alex Debon, who held pole earlier in the session, beat Kallio's best time to take second spot.

Bautista ended up fourth fastest, ahead of Mattia Pasini, Julian Simon and Hector Barbera.

Pos  Rider               Bike        Time              
 1.  Marco Simoncelli    Gilera      1:41.427
 2.  Alex Debon          Aprilia     1:41.474  + 0.047
 3.  Mika Kallio         KTM         1:41.593  + 0.166
 4.  Alvaro Bautista     Aprilia     1:41.803  + 0.376
 5.  Mattia Pasini       Aprilia     1:41.804  + 0.377
 6.  Julian Simon        KTM         1:42.189  + 0.762
 7.  Hector Barbera      Aprilia     1:42.360  + 0.933
 8.  Hiroshi Aoyama      KTM         1:42.545  + 1.118
 9.  Thomas Luthi        Aprilia     1:42.592  + 1.165
10.  R.Wilairot          Honda       1:42.754  + 1.327
11.  Yuki Takahashi      Honda       1:42.769  + 1.342
12.  R.Locatelli         Gilera      1:42.959  + 1.532
13.  Manuel Poggiali     Gilera      1:43.011  + 1.584
14.  Fabrizio Lai        Gilera      1:43.142  + 1.715
15.  Hector Faubel       Aprilia     1:43.159  + 1.732
16.  Karel Abraham       Aprilia     1:43.583  + 2.156
17.  Lukas Pesek         Aprilia     1:43.760  + 2.333
18.  Aleix Espargaro     Aprilia     1:43.885  + 2.458
19.  Alex Baldolini      Aprilia     1:43.963  + 2.536
20.  Eugene Laverty      Aprilia     1:44.741  + 3.314
21.  Imre Toth           Aprilia     1:44.853  + 3.426
22.  Federico Sandi      Aprilia     1:44.966  + 3.539
23.  D.T.Pradita         Yamaha      1:47.961  + 6.534
24.  Chow Ho Wan         Aprilia     1:48.389  + 6.962
25.  Russell Gomez       Aprilia     1:49.184  + 7.757
26.  Sergio Batista      Honda       5'08.698  + 3:27.2719