Gibernau edges Rossi in qualifying

Sete Gibernau posted the fastest time in practice, edging Valentino Rossi ahead of Sunday's MotoGP Pacific Grand Prix in Japan.

If Rossi wins and Gibernau fails to finish, the 24-year-old Italian would become world champion for the third straight year.

Gibernau powered his Honda to a time of 1 minute, 48.707 seconds at the 4.801 kilometre Twin Ring Motegi, 0.184 seconds faster than Rossi. He hit a top speed of 280.7 kph in the hour-long first qualifying session.

Rossi will be bidding for his fourth straight victory in the Moto GP class in Sunday's race. He leads the overall standings with 262 points, 51 ahead of Gibernau.

Gibernau has won four Moto GP races this season but has not won since the German Grand Prix in July.

Japan's Makoto Tamada, who took his first podium at Rio two weeks ago with a third-place finish, had the third fastest time of 1:48.910 in Friday's qualifying.

Italian Max Biaggi was fourth in 1:49.123 as Honda riders claimed the four fastest times.