Max Biaggi turned the quickest time in the first 500cc Qualifying session, on Firday afternoon (Japan time) of the Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka Circuit.

Top qualifiers follow:

1. Biaggi 2:06.056
2. Abe 2:06.426
3. Rossi 2:06.475
4. Nakano 2:06.510
5. Barros 2:06.599
6. Ukawa 2:06.630
7. Criville 2:06.714
8. Capirossi 2:06.765
9. Roberts 2:06.921
10. Haga 2:06.935
11. Checa 2:07.222
12. Gibernau 2:07.276
13. McCoy 2:07.558
14. Ryo 2:08.264
15. Cardoso 2:08.469
16. H. Aoki 2:08.906
17. Goorbergh 2:09.330
18. Walker 2:10.250
19. Jacque 2:11.790
20. L. Haslam 2:12.298