MotoReview

The heavy rain started whilst Sete Gibernau was at the top of the order and it briefly looked as though the final grid positions were decided with 30 minutes still left to run. Fortunately the rain didn't last and the riders were able to go back out to try and better their times, albeit on a slightly damp track.

Gibernau's time was soon bettered and with moments left of the session, Dani Pedrosa snatched pole position in what was just his 4th ever MotoGP qualifying hour.

John Hopkins managed a very impressive 1'59.373, getting his elbow down in the process and going second. The front row start is Suzuki's best since Motegi last year.

In third, and half a grid away from his team-mate, was Colin Edwards on his Yamaha M1. The Texan said that he felt comfortable on the bike, despite the fact you could see the front wheel chattering a lot on qualifying tyres. Rossi starts on row five of the grid in 13th place, continuing his run of poor qualifying results.

Chinese MotoGP Qualifying Results 

1) Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team 1'59.009
2) John Hopkins Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1'59.373
3) Colin Edwards Camel Yamaha Team 1'59.383
4) Shinya Nakano Kawasaki Racing Team 1'59.570
5) Nicky Hayden Repsol Honda Team 1'59.574
6) Sete Gibernau Ducati Marlboro Team 1'59.639
7) Casey Stoner Honda LCR 1'59.890
8) Marco Melandri Fortuna Honda 2'00.014
9) Randy De Puniet Kawasaki Racing Team 2'00.044
10) Loris Capirossi Ducati Marlboro Team 2'00.078
11) Makoto Tamada Konica Minolta Honda 2'00.176
12) Chris Vermeulen Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 2'00.304
13) Valentino Rossi Camel Yamaha Team 2'00.720
14) Carlos Checa Tech 3 Yamaha 2'01.052
15) Toni Elias Fortuna Honda 2'01.275
16) Alex Hofmann Pramac d'Antín MotoGP 2'01.972
17) James Ellison Tech 3 Yamaha 2'02.088
18) Kenny Roberts Jr Team Roberts 2'02.311
19) Jose Luis Cardoso Pramac d'Antín MotoGP 2'02.948