Bautista up front in Spain.

Alvaro Bautista will be chasing only his second podium of the season in Sunday's 250cc Catalan Grand Prix after taking his third pole of the year, in front of his home fans, in Barcelona.

Bautista, whose Estoril victory marks his only top three finish of the season so far, crashed out of the lead of last Sunday's Italian Grand Prix but rebounded by taking provisional pole on Friday at the Circuit de Catalunya and then overcoming the challenge of countrymen Alex Debon and Hector Barbera to keep the position during Saturday's final qualifying session.

Le Mans winner Debon was left 0.131secs from Bautista's Mapfre Aspar Aprilia, with Barbera - who clashed spectacularly with Marco Simoncelli last weekend - one place in front of the Italian in third.

Rookie Mattia Pasini heads row two with world championship leader Mika Kallio just ninth fastest, one place behind KTM team-mate Hiroshi Aoyama - who fell and didn't improve on his Friday time.

Final qualifying - Catalunya:

1. Bautista (Aprilia)

2. Debon (Aprilia) +0.131secs

3. Barbera (Aprilia) +0.426secs

4. Simoncelli (Gilera) +0.659secs

5. Pasini (Aprilia) +0.727secs

6. Faubel (Aprilia) +0.958secs

7. Takahashi (Honda) +1.032secs

8. Aoyama (KTM) +1.220secs

9. Kallio (KTM) +1.316secs

10. Simon (KTM) +1.485secs

20. Laverty (Aprilia) +3.756secs