Barros heroics on home soil

Alex Barros, the local hero, was the only rider to break the 112-second barrier and capture provisional pole position after first qualifying for tomorrow's 500cc race at the Brazilian Grand Prix in Rio de Janeiro. Riding a Honda, Barros covered the 4.933-kilometer Nelson Piquet circuit on a dry track in 1min 51.873sec.

Alex Barros, the local hero, was the only rider to break the 112-second barrier and capture provisional pole position after first qualifying for tomorrow's 500cc race at the Brazilian Grand Prix in Rio de Janeiro. Riding a Honda, Barros covered the 4.933-kilometer Nelson Piquet circuit on a dry track in 1min 51.873sec.

Italy's Max Biagi recorded the second fastest time with 1:52.028, more than two-tenths of a second ahead of Italy's Valentino Rossi. The American Kenny Roberts completed the front row. Spain's Alex Criville crashed on the final lap, but was unhurt and finished 13th.