250: Lorenzo leads Aoyama bros.

Jorge Lorenzo spoiled the party for the home riders in the first 250cc qualifying at Motegi on Friday afternoon.

The Spaniard snatched the provisional pole position from the two Aoyama brothers, Hiroshi and Shuhei, and their countryman Yuki Takahashi. The two siblings had been fastest in the morning session at the track, but a 1min 52.132secs lap from world championship leader Lorenzo was just enough to prevent them from repeating the feat in the final moments of the afternoon outing.

Alex de Angelis and title contender Andrea Dovizioso trailed the Japanese trio, still less than a second off Lorenzo's provisional top spot. Ryuji Yokoe, a Japanese wildcard riding a Yamaha this weekend, clinched eighth place ahead of Fortuna Aprilia's Hector Barbera, whilst the top ten was finished by Thai rider Ratthapark Wilairot on a Honda.

250cc top ten - first qualifying:

1. Lorenzo (Aprilia)
2. H. Aoyama (KTM) +0.118secs
3. S. Aoyama (Honda) +0.293secs
4. Takahashi (Honda) +0.605secs
5. de Angelis (Aprilia) +0.714secs
6. Dovizioso (Honda) +0.993secs
7. Locatelli (Aprilia) +1.280secs
8. Yokoe (Yamaha) +1.414secs
9. Barbera (Aprilia) +1.752secs
10. Wilairot (Honda) +1.854secs