MOTEGI, Japan (Reuters) -- Max Biaggi seized pole position for the Pacific Grand Prix in dramatic style with a time of one minute, 47.696 seconds in the final qualifying session on Saturday.

The Italian will line up in pole position for the third time this season on Sunday after pipping fast-improving MotoGP newcomer Makoto Tamada with just seconds left in the second qualifying practice at Motegi.

Japanese rider Tamada, who finished a impressive third in Brazil on September 20, clocked 1:47.804.

Biaggi's compatriot and fierce rival Valentino Rossi, a red-hot favorite to retain his MotoGP title this season, was third quickest in 1:48.030.

"I am feeling confident," said Biaggi, who has only a mathematical chance of catching Rossi. "We need to work to find a little more traction in the warm-up tomorrow but ... I am very satisfied."

Spaniard Sete Gibernau, the only rider with a realistic chance of preventing Rossi clinching a hat-trick of world titles, was fourth fastest in 1:48.457 to complete an all-Honda front row.

Rossi, champion in the final season of 500cc in 2001 and the inaugural season of MotoGP last year, can wrap up the title if he wins at Motegi and Gibernau fails to score a point.

Spanish Aprilia rider Toni Elias recovered from a crash to set pole position on his last lap with a time of 1:52.849 in the 250cc class.

Championship leader Manuel Poggiali of San Marino will start from seventh on the grid on his Aprilia after clocking 1:53.868.

Honda rider Daniel Pedrosa, who leads the 125cc standings by 42 points, claimed pole position after 125cc qualifying after the 18-year-old Spaniard set the fastest lap of 1:57.736.

Earlier, Japanese rider Daijiro Kato, who died from injuries sustained as a result of a high-speed crash at the season-opening race in Suzuka, was inducted into the MotoGP Hall of Fame.

Honda rider Kato won the 250cc world title in 2001, winning a record 11 out of 16 races before moving up to MotoGP.