Daijiro Katoh was the quickest man on a 250 and Youich Ui was the quickest man on a 125 in the first round of qualifying for the Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka Circuit on Friday afternoon, Japan time.

Top times follow:

250cc First Qualifying Session
1. Daijiro Katoh Honda 2:07.943
2. Marco Melandri Aprilia 2:08.546
3. Naoki Matsudo Yamaha 2:09.563
4. Jeremy McWilliams Aprilia 2:09.742
5. Tetsuya Harada Aprilia 2:09.898
6. Roberto Locatelli Aprilia 2:10.005
7. Roberto Rolfo Aprilia 2:10.009
8. Franco Battaini Aprilia 2:10.255
9. Fonsi Nieto Aprilia 2:10.264
10. Emilio Alzamora Honda 2:10.673
11. Shahrol Yuzy Yamaha 2:10.678
12. Sebastian Porto Yamaha 2:10.892
13. Hiroshi Aoyama Honda 2:11.414
14. Klaus Nohles Aprilia 2:11.518
15. David De Gea Yamaha 2:11.619


125cc First Qualifying Session
1. Youichi Ui Derbi 2:15.334
2. Hideyuki Nakajoh Honda 2:16.293
3. Masao Azuma Honda 2:16.485
4. Noboru Ueda TSR-Honda 2:16.534
5. Hiroyuki Kikuchi Honda 2:16.713
6. Max Sabbatani Aprilia 2:16.843
7. Steve Jenkner Aprilia 2:16.902
8. Gianluigi Scalvini Italjet 2:17.139
9. Antonio Elias Honda 2:17.163
10. Stefano Perugini Italjet 2:17.229