Four in a row for Ui.

Youichi Ui continued his perfect run of pole positions in 2001 by setting the pace in Le Mans final qualifying - despite a mid session fall, when he missed his breaking point and rammed Gianluigi Scalvini.

Overnight pole-sitter Ui had kept his top spot in the early part of the 45-minute session, but it was Toni Elias, who had been fastest in the morning free practice, that was soon on the move - the youngster jumping from fifth overnight to third in the opening ten minutes.

However, Elias' effort was soon eclipsed by Nobby Ueda (who moved into third), and then Gino Borsoi - who shot into pole position, by over 0.3secs, on the #23 Aprilia.

Ui soon fought back, and reclaimed his pole by seconds later - only for Italjet rider Stefano Perugini to sensationally take the top spot for himself with half an hour to go.

20mins to go and Ui made a rare careless error, when he missed his braking point and speared into Gigi Scalvini, knocking both the Italjet rider and himself off and sending them into the gravel trap.

Ui immediately went to the aid of the injured Scalvini, who had hit his head hard on the race track but was conscious - albeit in pain, before returning slowly to the pits while medics attended to Italian.

Meanwhile, Mirko Giansanti had moved into pole, but was being challenged for the position by Manuel Poggiali - who went 0.397secs faster than Giansanti, setting an all-time lap record well as provisional pole.

Poggiali remained the man to beat - until Ui returned to the track and displaced the Gilera rider, but Poggiali still had a lap in hand, and was setting quick sector times as he fought for his first ever MotoGP pole position.

Despite his efforts the San Marian rider would lose out to Ui by just 0.088secs at the completion of his final lap, with Lucio Cecchinello third - but almost 0.5secs behind the top two.

Jaroslav Hules put in his best qualifying session of his career by taking the final front row starting spot, with the fourth fastest time.

Full times to follow...

1. Ui
2. Poggiali +0.088secs
3. Cecchinello +0.455secs
4. Hules +0.603secs
5. Ueda +0.610secs
6. Elias +0.661secs
7. Giansanti +0.789secs
8. Borsoi +0.850secs