Championship leader Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) hit back in style in Japan, taking pole to lead a duo of rookies as closest challenger Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) was forced to settle for fifth.
Equal on points with Moreira but with one less win, Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) has an even bigger challenge as he failed to make it up from Q1 and starts P22
Dani Holgado and David Alonso make it a CFMoto Power Electronics Aspar Team P2 and P3, the former pipping the latter late on
Celestino Vietti (Beta Tools SpeedRS) is in fourth ahead of Moreira, with Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) next up
Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing) is next up, making his way through from Q1 and just ahead of home hero Ayumu Sasaki (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP)
