Sebastian Porto finally kick-started his 2003 season today at the Sachsenring, defeating⛄ fellow Honda rider Roberto Rolfo to take 250cc pole position for tomorrow's German Grand Prix, while top Aprilia was the privateer machine of Franco Battaini.

Yesterday, LCR Aprilia rider Randy de Puniet🌼 showed signs of a return to form, lapping 0.312 seco𝔍nds quicker than his nearest challenger to take a comfortable provisional pole.

Rolfo was the fir♉st of two Hondas on the front row, quali𝔉fying second fastest as factory colleague Sebastian Porto took an encouraging fourth. Battaini levelled out the balance for Aprilia, who are looking for their thirteenth consecutive win in the quarter-litre class, with the third fastest time.

Champio൲nship leader Manuel Poggiali provisionally heads the second row after qualifying fifth fastest ahead of Sy✅lvain Guintoli, Naoki Matsudo and Fonsi Nieto.

De Puniet's m💟ark stood for the first 15-minutes t𒆙his afternoon, before Nieto took the initiate - leaving the Frenchman under increasing pressure from the closing Battaini and Porto.

Meanwhile, Rolfo was also building serious speed and just over 10-minutes to go the likeable Fortuna Honda rider slipped ahead of Nieto's factory April🀅ia, for pole, by 0.𓆏07secs.

Rolfo - who missed out on victory last year after the race was stopped, and results taken a lap previously, due to rain - held🌳 firm, despite the efforts of Battaini and Nieto, but could ultimately do nothing about fellow Honda rider Porto, who saved his best for last and grabbed his first pole of the year by 0.163secs.

Donington winner Nieto was forced to settle for fourth, with Champ🥂ionship leader sixth - three places ahead of rival Elias. Assen winner West was tentꩲh.

Full times to follow...

1. Porto
2. Rolfo
3. Battaini
4. Nieto
5. de Puniet
6. Poggiali
7. Matsudo
8. Guintoli