Chris Vermeulen splashed his way to a maiden MotoGP pole position for the Turkish Grand Prix in Istanbul today.
Rain for most of the session eased later on and gave the riders a late chance to take their shot at pole position.
Rizla Suzuki rider Vermeulen reacted quickest and his lap time of two minutes 4.617 seconds, set in the dying seconds of qualifying, proved to be the benchmark.
The rookie Australian will start from pole position, ahead of Repsol Honda's Nicky Hayden, who is aiming to keep up his record of finishing on the podium in every race this season.
Hayden looked set to claim pole position in the dying seconds before a mechanical problem ended his lap prematurely.
Sete Gibernau for once outshone Ducati Marlboro team-mate Loris Capirossi and the Spaniard will complete the front row in third. Randy de Puniet caused a surprise to take his Kawasaki to fourth place while Capirossi, the championship leader, was fifth.
John Hopkins on the other Rizla Suzuki was sixth.
World champion Valentino Rossi, on one of the few tracks he has not won at, struggled on his Camel Yamaha and will start down in ninth.
