
Hector Faubel upstaged the 125cc title contenders to take his first pole position of the season at Aragon.
The 2007 125cc runner-up was brought back to the series by Aspar this year after three underwhelming seasons in 250cc/Moto2, and today's pole marks the first time he has topped qualifying since the '07 Sepang 125cc race.
Faubel did not look like a pole contender going into the closing stages as his points-leading team-mate Nico Terol and Blusens rider Maverick Vinales fought it out.
But in the closing moments Faubel came through with a 1m59.222s to deny Vinales a fourth pole of his rookie season by just 0.009 seconds.
Terol completes an all-Spanish front row, ahead of his title rival Johann Zarco (Ajo Derbi).
Danny Kent (Ajo Aprilia) and Luis Salom (RW Aprilia) join Zarco on row two.
Vinales' new team-mate Josep Rodriguez, replacing the Moto2-bound Sergio Gadea, was in the top 10 for a long while before slipping to 12th in the end. The Spanish championship frontrunner is making his fifth 125cc start after a handful of wildcard appearances.
Pos Rider Team/Bike Time Gap 1. Hector Faubel Aspar Aprilia 1m59.222s 2. Maverick Vinales Blusens Aprilia 1m59.231s + 0.009s 3. Nicolas Terol Aspar Aprilia 1m59.365s + 0.143s 4. Johann Zarco Ajo Derbi 1m59.598s + 0.376s 5. Danny Kent Ajo Aprilia 1m59.814s + 0.592s 6. Luis Salom RW Aprilia 1m59.902s + 0.680s 7. Sandro Cortese Germany Aprilia 2m00.011s + 0.789s 8. Alberto Moncayo Andalucia Aprilia 2m00.316s + 1.094s 9. Efren Vazquez Ajo Derbi 2m00.432s + 1.210s 10. Jonas Folger Ajo Aprilia 2m00.447s + 1.225s 11. Adrian Martin Aspar Aprilia 2m00.697s + 1.475s 12. Josep Rodriguez Blusens Aprilia 2m00.720s + 1.498s 13. Louis Rossi Matteoni Aprilia 2m00.786s + 1.564s 14. Jakub Kornfeil Ongetta Aprilia 2m00.845s + 1.623s 15. Marcel Schrotter Mahindra 2m00.853s + 1.631s 16. Miguel Oliveira Andalucia Aprilia 2m01.118s + 1.896s 17. Jasper Iwema Ongetta Aprilia 2m01.492s + 2.270s 18. Niklas Ajo TT Motion Aprilia 2m01.504s + 2.282s 19. Luigi Morciano Italia FMI Aprilia 2m02.064s + 2.842s 20. Alexis Masbou Caretta KTM 2m02.082s + 2.860s 21. Harry Stafford Ongetta Aprilia 2m02.119s + 2.897s 22. Alessandro Tonucci Italia FMI Aprilia 2m02.375s + 3.153s 23. Danny Webb Mahindra 2m02.400s + 3.178s 24. Giulian Pedone Phonica Aprilia 2m02.796s + 3.574s 25. Francesco Mauriello WTR-Ten10 Aprilia 2m02.881s + 3.659s 26. Sturla Fagerhaug WTR-Ten10 Aprilia 2m02.963s + 3.741s 27. Manuel Tatasciore Phonica Aprilia 2m03.153s + 3.931s 28. Taylor Mackenzie Phonica Aprilia 2m03.284s + 4.062s 29. Joan Perello Matteoni Aprilia 2m04.010s + 4.788s 30. Kevin Hanus Hanusch Honda 2m04.653s + 5.431s 31. Zulfahmi Khairuddin Ajo Derbi 2m04.654s + 5.432s 32. Pedro Rodriguez DVJ Aprilia 2m04.886s + 5.664s 33. Damien Raemy Caretta KTM 2m04.926s + 5.704s