Barros on Spanish pole

Barros blazed to Spanish pole

Brazil's Alex Barros will begin Sunday's 500cc Catalunya Grand Prix in pole position.

The Honda rider clocked a time of one minute 45.914 seconds in heavy rain on the Spanish circuit.

It was Barros' second successive pole, but he has only won once in 137 attempts - at Spain's Jarama circuit, seven years ago.

Italian Loris Capirossi, who won last month's Grand Prix in Mugello, finished second in a time of 1:47.044, with Amercian and joint championship leader Kenny Roberts in third.

Spanish hero Carlos Checa, who shares the lead with Roberts, will start in fourth and current world champion Alex Criville, riding on a Honda, will begin in seventh.

Further rain is expected on Sunday as torrential downpours continue to flood the area around Barcelona.

Leading grid positions for Sunday's 500cc race at the Catalunya Grand Prix after Saturday's final qualifying session:

Circuit length 4.727 kms:

1. Alex Barros (Brazil) Honda 1 minute 45.914 seconds (average speed 160.568 kph)
2. Loris Capirossi (Italy) Honda 1:46.110
3. Kenny Roberts (U.S.) Suzuki 1:46.828
4. Carlos Checa (Spain) Yamaha 1:47.044
5. Nobuatsu Aoki (Japan) Suzuki 1:47.135
6. Tadayuki Okada (Japan) Honda 1:47.164
7. Alex Criville (Spain) Honda 1:47.216
8. Max Biaggi (Italy) Yamaha 1:47.239

Current standings in the World 500cc Motorcycle Championships:

1. Roberts 100
2. Checa 100
3. Abe 65
4. Capirossi 63
5. Garry McCoy (Australia) 61
6. Alex Criville (Spain) 59
7. Aoki 59
8. Alex Barros (Brazil) 52
9. Okada 42
10. Valentino Rossi (Italy) 41

Constructor's standings:

1. Yamaha 130
2. Honda 108
3. Suzuki 103
4. Aprilia 41
5. TSR-Honda 29