Raffaele de Rosa claimed an unexpected first 250cc pole on his last lap of qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island.

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• Qualifying results
• 250cc World Championship standings
• Stoner on Phillip Island pole
• 125s: Espargaro on last-gasp pole
• Eurosport Player

The Italian - riding in his first season in 250s after four years with no podiums and only one pole in the 125s - snatched pole from fellow Italian and reigning 250cc world champion Marco Simoncelli by 0.225s.

De Rosa's Scot Honda team-mate and title leader Hiroshi Aoyama jumped from sixth to third on his last lap, with Alex Debon completing the front row in fourth.

Hector Barbera, fastest on Friday despite a painful highside, will head row two with Aoyama's nearest title rival Alvaro Bautista managing only 10th position for Aspar Aprilia.

In a repeat of Friday practice, a heavy rain shower doused the seaside circuit at the start of the quarter-litre session - prompting numerous riders to fall - before conditions improved once again.

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