Motegi: Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi secured pole position in Saturday's qualifying for the MotoGP of Japan.
Rossi a nine-time world champion, clocked a lap of 1 minute, 43.954 seconds at Twin Ring Motegi to finish 0.180 seconds ahead of Honda rider Marc Marquez.
Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo was third followed by Ducati rider Andrea Dovisiozo.
Marquez holds a 52-point lead over Rossi in the overall standings and could wrap up the 2016 title with a win on Sunday.
Rossi has won the MotoGP of Japan four times, but not since 2008. Marquez has won here twice, in 2010 and 2012.
Honda rider Cal Crutchlow and Aleix Espargaro, riding a Suzuki, were fifth and sixth to make up the second row on the grid for Sunday's race.