BRNO, Czech Republic, 16 August 2003 — Italy’s Max Biaggi snatched provisional pole for the Czech MotoGP Grand Prix yesterday, setting a new circuit record on his Honda to edge out arch-rival Valentino Rossi in the last qualifying lap.
Rossi, the defending world champion and leader this season, had been leading for most of the session on his Honda, constantly stretching his lead.
But the 32-year-old Biaggi, who won in Brno in 2002, came through with a flying final lap of one minute 59.520 seconds.
Biaggi, who crashed out of the last race in Germany before a one-month break in the season, looked comfortable around the 3.26-mile (5 km) circuit which has brought him seven wins, including four successive 250cc races from 1994-97.
Loris Capirossi was third on his powerful Ducati machine.
Rossi, who holds a 29-point lead over Spaniard Sete Gibernau in the standings, clocked 1:59.708. Gibernau, on a Honda, clocked the fifth fastest time with 2:00.438.
A second qualifying round will be held today.
Holder Rossi leads the championship on his Honda Repsol bike once again this season but Gibernau, who rides for Telefonica Moviestar Honda, has the momentum after shooting past his rival on the final corner to win the German Grand Prix in late July.
Rossi has 187 points and three wins in nine races, but Gibernau has 158 points and four wins, including two of the last three races.
