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Your support makes all the difference.World champion Valentino Rossi of Italy posted the fastest time in Friday's MotoGP qualifying session ahead of Sunday's season-opening Grand Prix of Japan.
Rossi, who has won the last two Grand Prix at the 5.8-kilometer (3.6-mile) Suzuka circuit, powered his RCV 211V Respol Honda to a time of two minutes, 06.838 seconds in rainy conditions. Compatriot Max Biaggi was second in 2:07.092 on a Honda.
"We were lucky with the strange conditions today," said the 24-year-old Rossi.
"We made a good time just before the rain started and I'd like to get some good conditions again tomorrow."
Japan's Toru Ukawa, also riding a Honda, was third in 2:07.298 while Spain's Carlos Checa was fourth in 2:07.426 on a Yamaha.
American Kenny Roberts was seventh with a time of 2:08.389 while fellow American and 2002 world superbike champion Colin Edwards crossed in 2:08.785 for ninth place.
Rossi dominated the new four-stroke MotoGP last season, winning 11 events, and is looking for his third straight championship this season.
Rain is expected for Sunday's 21-lap race, first in the 16-round grand prix series.
Earlier Friday, Italy's Marco Melandri, who was set to make his MotoGP debut at the Grand Prix of Japan, fractured his right ankle in the morning MotoGP practice session and will be unable to take part in Sunday's race.
Melandri, the 2002 250cc champion, slid from his Yamaha YZR-M1 on a right-hand corner and also broke his nose in the incident. The 20-year-old Melandri was fully conscious after the accident and said the bike made contact with him in the fall.
In the 250cc qualifying session, Japan's Hiroshi Aoyama was fastest with a time of 2:17.930 followed by compatriot Katsuyuki Nakasuga, who posted a time of 2:18.105. Alex Debon of Spain was third in 2:18.274.
Spain's Fonsi Nieto, who finished second in last year's standings, finished a disappointing ninth with a time of 2:22.457.
In Friday's 125cc qualifier, San Marino's Alex De Angelis posted the fastest time of 2:15.417 on his Aprilla. Spain's Daniel Pedrosa, riding a Honda, was second in 2:15.881 followed by Italy's Lucio Cecchinello in 2:16.732 on an Aprilla.
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