ESTORIL, Portugal -- Italy's MotoGp champion Valentino Rossi produced a blistering final lap on Friday to take the provisional pole position for Sunday's Portuguese Grand Prix.

Rossi's Spanish rival Sete Gibernau, also on a Honda, led for most of the first qualifying session at the twisting, bumpy Estoril track near Lisbon but pulled in to the pits shortly before the end.

Four riders then used the final minutes to set quick closing laps and move ahead of Gibernau, second in the championship and 34 points behind Rossi with six races remaining.

Rossi's time of one minute 39.391 seconds round the 4.2 km circuit was quicker than the official lap record of one minute 39.793 seconds set last year by Spain's Carlos Checa.

Olivier Jacque of France, 11th in the championship rankings, was second fastest and Italy's Max Biaggi third. Biaggi needs a good result to move up from third place in the standings.

Japanese Honda rider Tohru Ukawa was fourth fastest, ahead of Gibernau.

Winner at Estoril in 2001 and 2002, Rossi leads the championship on 212 points, with Gibernau second on 178 and Biaggi third on 141.