Dani Pedrosa snatched pole position from American veteran Colin Edwards in the final stages of qualifying for Sunday's French MotoGP at Le Mans.
The 34-year-old Edwards was on course for a second consecutive pole start until his time was beaten by the world championship leader.
Casey Stoner starts from third ahead of Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo, who was fifth despite two fractured ankles.
James Toseland starts from seventh, edged off row two by Nicky Hayden.
Pedrosa has a good record at Le Mans, having won the 125cc race here in 2003, and the 250cc in 2004 and 2005.
606: DEBATE
"It's our first pole position of the season, it is very important especially on this circuit," said Pedrosa.
"The race will be complicated, because a lot of the riders will be challenging. Also I am keeping a keen eye on the weather forecast."
Should Rossi win Sunday's race, he will go level with Spain's Angel Nieto as the second most successful rider of all time in all categories, with 90 wins.
Lorenzo, who had another spill in the morning before qualifying, soldiered on bravely despite his injuries.
"My crash this morning didn't help, but I didn't make anything worse and I was able to ride this afternoon and to try hard with my qualifying tyres," he said.
"We need to improve the bike more for this track, especially the electronics and the chassis, but I know that we can be better tomorrow and I am sure that my physical condition will be better as well."
French MotoGP qualifying result:
1 D Pedrosa (Spa) Repsol Honda 1min 32.647secs
2 C Edwards (US) Tech 3 Yamaha 1:32.774
3 C Stoner (Aus) Ducati 1:32.994
4 V Rossi (Ita) Fiat Yamaha 1:33.157
5 J Lorenzo (Spa) Fiat Yamaha 1:33.269
6 N Hayden (US) Repsol Honda 1:33.286
7 J Toseland (GB) Tech 3 Yamaha 1:33.396
8 C Vermeulen (Aus) Rizla Suzuki 1:33.440
9 J Hopkins (US) Kawasaki 1:33.628
10 A Dovizioso (Ita) Honda 1:33.689
250cc qualifying result:
1 A Debon (Spa) Aprilia 1min 38.478secs
2 A Bautista (Spa) Aprilia 1:38.496
3 M Simoncelli (Ita) Gilera 1:38.567
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~32~RS~)