Van den Goorbergh shock top Honda.

The most unusual qualifying result of the 2002 season delivered an all-500cc two-stroke front row at Phillip Island, with the top Honda runner proving to be Jurgen van den Goorbergh in fourth place.

Equally unexpectedly, there were no Michelin runners on the front row, with three Bridgestone and one Dunlop-supplied riders in the top four spots.

Held in largely the same windy conditions that plagued day one of qualifying, the final timed session was a frantic affair on the final laps, as the winds eased by a small degree and all the top riders embarked on one last gasp effort to take pole.

Van den Goorbergh, quick all weekend long, was happy with his entire package in qualifying, and feels he can put in a good race performance as well.

"Maybe this result has got more to do with the fact that we have got softer qualifying tyres than Michelin at the moment, but nevertheless I think that in terms of race lap times we are also competitive," said the Dutch rider.

"All weekend long we have been around fifth or sixth. It is nice to be here and back at the front again because it has been such a frustrating year. Until now it has not been going that well, and I don't think it's my fault either, so it is good to have this chance to show I can be successful," added vd Goorbergh.

"This has been a very good day for us, this is what we have been working towards these last two years," beamed Erv Kanemoto. "We've hope for this all year and now it's arrived I'm very pleased for the whole team who have worked really hard. It's only one race for the moment but if you look at our performances since Rio you can see the slight progress we have made, better step by step, never sideways.

"We are getting to where we want to be. Of course the race could change the position, the four-strokes seem to have trouble with the wind, more than the lighter bikes. If the wind drops things might be different. Hopefully conditions will stay the same. We now have enough of a base for consistency in future and that's so important in racing. I'm real happy with the situation," added the legendary Japanese tuner.