Gabor Talmacsi produced the lap of the season to shatter the Brno lap record and claim his third pole position of 2007 in qualifying for the 125cc Czech Grand Prix.

The 26-year-old Hungarian, who had been second overnight, went to the top of the timesheets mid-way through the session as he beat Mika Kallio's 2006 record lap.

But, after being knocked down the order by both Mattia Pasini and Hector Faubel, the championship leader responded with a sensational lap of 2:06.861 to beat his Aspar Aprilia team-mate Faubel by 0.541 seconds and claim the sixth pole of his career.

Pasini, riding a Polaris World Aprilia, tried to respond on his final lap but encountered heavy traffic and was forced to back off, leaving him third.

Fourth, following a great lap in the final minute, was Tomoyoshi Koyama on his KTM, knocking provisional pole-sitter Lukas Pesek off the front row.

The Czech rider had been keen to impress in front of his home crowd but his enthusiasm got the better of him as he high-sided off his Seedorf Derbi at turn two, landing on his back and forcing him out onto the track on his spare bike.

Randy Krummenacher was another to crash, but the KTM teenager was still able to snatch a career-best sixth place on the grid, ahead of Sergio Gadea's Aspar bike.

The Aprilias of Sandro Cortese (Caffe Latte), Pablo Nieto (Blusens) and Pol Espargaro (Campetella) completed the top ten.

Britain's Bradley Smith improved to 13th on his Repsol Honda while Danny Webb dropped two spots to 32nd on his De Graaf-run machine.

At least they both stayed upright though, unlike KTM's American Steve Bonsey, who crashed heavily at turn five.

Jamie O'Leary / Eurosport