Zoom Marco Simoncelli

The leader of the 250cc World Championship, Marco Simoncelli put his best foot forward in Misano to take provisional pole on Friday afternoon.

The Italian was the quickest quarter-litre rider on-track in the first qualifying session for the San Marino race, aiming for his third consecutive top spot on the grid.

Simoncelli´s fastest lap stopped the clock at 1´38.400, on his 17th turn of the circuit located close to his hometown of Cattolica. The Metis Gilera rider will prove a fearsome foe for his rivals this weekend, with only Hector Barbera joining Simoncelli in breaching the 1´39 barrier. Barbera was some half a second down on the current 250cc top man in the qualifying run.

Emmi-Caffe Latte rider Thomas Luthi and last year´s Misano runner-up Hiroshi Aoyama round off the provisional front row for the Sunday showdown, whilst behind them the foursome of Yuki Takahashi, Julian Simon, Mika Kallio and Mattia Pasini penciled their names onto the second line.

Kallio is one of the favourites for the title this year, whilst Pasini hails from Rimini and was the winner of last season´s 125cc race at Misano.

© DORNA / CAPSIS International