Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Five Aprilias led the way in the first 250cc qualifying session for the Skyy Vodka Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka Circuit Friday, with the first Honda on the Honda-owned circuit back in ninth place.

Times follow:

1. Franco Battaini, Italy, Aprilia, 2:08.627
2. Fonsi Nieto, Spain, Aprilia, 2:08.754
3. Marco Melandri, Italy, Aprilia, 2:08.896
4. Alex Debon, Spain, Aprilia, 2:09.438
5. Randy de Puniet, France, Aprilia, 2:09.592
6. Sebastian Porto, Argentina, Yamaha, 2:10.106
7. Osamu Miyazaki, Japan, Yamaha, 2:10.444
8. Toni Elias, Spain, Aprilia, 2:10.775
9. Roberto Rolfo, Italy, Honda, 2:10.785
10. Emilio Alzamora, Spain, Honda 2:10.930
11. Roberto Locatelli, Italy, Aprilia, 2:11.042
12. Naoki Matsudo, Japan, Yamaha, 2:11.081
13. Choujun Kameya, Japan, Honda, 2:11.306
14. Hiroshi Aoyama, Japan, Honda, 2:11.530
15. Casey Stoner, Australia, Aprilia, 2:11.735
16. Taro Sekiguchi, Japan, Yamaha, 2:11.852
17. Daisaku Sakai, Japan, Honda, 2:11.896
18. Jay Vincent, Great Britain, Honda, 2:11.973
19. Leon Haslam, Great Britain, Honda, 2:12.265
20. Shahrol Yusy, Malaysia, Yamaha, 2:12.283