Espargaro takes home Catalan pole.

Pol Espargaro has taken his first ever grand prix pole position, in front of his home fans, after successfully defending his 125cc provisional pole at Catalunya - whilst Bradley Smith became the latest casualty of the slippery asphalt.

With four minutes to go, sixth fastest Smith suffered a near highside on the exit of turn one. The young Briton managed to hang on, but speared off track - with his feet dragging along the floor - and was forced to let go of his Polaris World Aprilia with the tyre fall fast approaching.

Unfortunately, after a rough tumble, the bike bounced back off the tyre wall and into Bradley, who was taken away on a stretcher.

Meanwhile, Espargaro took pole by 0.139secs, with world championship leader Mike di Meglio completed a Derbi one-two ahead of Aprilia's Nicolas Terol. Rookie Scott

Redding secured a superb front row start for Blusens Aprilia, while Simone Corsi - tied with di Meglio on points - heads row two. Reigning world champion Gabor Talmacsi was the only rider in the top ten not to improve on his Friday time and slipped to seventh.

Final qualifying - Catalunya:

1. Espargaro (Derbi)

2. di Meglio (Derbi) ) +0.139secs

3. Terol (Aprilia) +0.183secs

4. Redding (Aprilia) +0.544secs

5. Corsi (Aprilia) +0.808secs

6. Gadea (Aprilia) +0.842secs

7. Talmacsi (Aprilia) +0.879secs

8. Smith (Aprilia) +0.882secs

9. Iannone (Aprilia) +0.943secs

10. Olive (Derbi) +0.961secs

21. Webb (Aprilia) +1.604secs