Barros the man to beat - just.

Emerson Honda Pons rider Alex Barros took provisional pole from Kenny Roberts Jr. by the narrowest of margins, in difficult conditions at Phillip Island.

Rain fell through the sunny conditions at the beginning of 500cc first qualifying session, ensuring that the majority of riders initially lapped steadily as they waited for the shower to pass.

With the track dry it was Ulsterman Jeremy McWilliams (who had been on pole in the 250cc race last year) set the pace 1min 40.6secs lap, from Valentino Rossi and New World Champion Kenny Roberts Jr.

The pole time then swapped between McCoy, Rossi and McWilliams, with McCoy crashing after losing the front wheel entering the fast first corner - having just retaken pole, he was apparently caught out by the increasingly unpredictable windy conditions, the local favourite sliding along the wet grass before walking away from the damaged Red Bull Yamaha and heading for the pits.

Roberts, quickest in morning practice from Barros, retook pole with a quarter of the session gone, with McWilliams still second. Tadayuki Okada was third in his last Grand Prix before moving to Superbikes next year, as Collin Edward's teammate. Barros meanwhile was fourth at this stage with Rossi down the order in tenth.

Not for long, however, as Barros went fastest minutes later being joined on the provisionally front row by reigning world Champion Alex Criville who went third - then crashed, another victim of the 'wind plus turn one' combination.

The qualifying tyres came into use with ten minutes to go, and attention automatically moved to Max Biaggi, the pole position holder at the last two races and qualifying tyre expert - he duly moved into second on the Marlboro Yamaha.

Biaggi's next lap put him on pole ahead of Abe with Marlboro Yamaha teammate Checa third. Abe then again went fastest with five minutes to go, the experienced Japanese rider still searching for his first 500cc pole.

Roberts, however, regained the advantage a minute later, while McWilliams had by now slipped to tenth. Barros moved into second with two minutes to go, before both Roberts and Barros (together on the track) both went faster - with Barros being the quicker and taking pole by the smallest of margins.

Rossi jumped from eleventh to third, riding the newly modified factory Honda - and was improving on his next (and final) lap but ultimately not sufficiently to move up the order.

Full results to follow......

1. Alex Barros 1min 35.141secs
2. Kenny Roberts Jr. +0.012secs
3. Valentino Rossi +0.074secs
4. Norick Abe +0.623secs
5. Regis Laconi +0.628secs
6. Max Biaggi +0.635secs
7. Jeremy McWilliams +0.802secs
8. Carlos Checa +0.852secs