SEPANG (Malaysia), Oct 11: World champion Valentino Rossi of Italy blazed a record lap time on Saturday to secure pole position for the weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix.

Riding a Honda, Rossi clocked a record 2min 02.480sec on the 5.5 (3.4 mile) Sepang circuit with some superb sideways antics around the track.

Rossi, who is aiming to retain his title with his seventh victory of the season this weekend, held off a challenge from Spanish rival Carlos Checa of Yamaha who secured second place.

Japan’s Makoto Tamada, riding a Honda, continued to impress with a strong finish to his first season in the class, clocking the third best time while four-time 250cc champion Max Biaggi, also on a Honda, posted the day’s fourth fastest time.

With three races left this season, Rossi leads with 282 points, followed by Spain’s Sete Gibernau on 224 and Biaggi on 199.

Rossi said he was in top form for Sunday’s race and would push for victory.

“The lap time is fantastic. It is good to start at the top of the pole. Our rhythm is perfect. I will go for a win but it will be a hard race,” he said.

Rossi said the wide and fast Sepang circuit suited his riding style.

“This is my perfect track,” he said.

Rossi is aiming to seal the world championship for a fifth time by winning his third successive race in Malaysia this weekend, the 14th leg of the 16-round world motorcycle championship.

Checa, who is lying eighth in the overall standings, also smashed Biaggi’s 2002 pole performance of 2min 04.925sec, despite an unfortunate final qualifying incident with his team-mate Marco Melandri.

The pair collided in the halfway stage of the hour-long session and slid into the gravel but emerged unhurt.

“I will fight for top position Sunday. I will push to the limits. But it will be a tough and hot race,” Checa said.

Tamada said he was pleased with the lap time but complained that the setting on his bike was not perfect.

“The 21-lap race is going to be difficult,” he said.

The Japanese rider finished third at Motegi but was later disqualified for hitting Gibernau.

Biaggi, who won at Motegi, said he was pleased with his position despite the punishing heat.

“Both Honda and Yamaha will be fighting for a win. I will do my best,” he said.

In the 250cc battle, Spain’s Toni Elias, riding an Aprilia, secured pole position.

Fellow Aprilia riders Manuel Poggiali of San Marino, now leading the overall standings, and Spain’s Fonsi Nieto recorded the day’s second and third fastest times.

“I hope to emerge victor Sunday and win the title,” Poggiali said.

Elias is third in the overall standings.

In the 125cc class, Jorge Lorenzo of Spain, grabbed the pole, riding a Derbi while countryman and title leader Daniel Pedrosa, on a Honda, is to start from the second best position.—AFP