MotoGP great Valentino Rossi has further underlined his iconic status by qualifying third for the Aragon Grand Prix just three weeks after breaking his leg.
Nine-time world champion Rossi, 38, fractured his tibia and fibula in a motocross accident on August 31.
"It is very important to start on the front row," he said. "I have to see now how much I can push in the race."
Maverick Vinales will start Sunday's race in Spain on pole.
The 22-year-old pushed his Yamaha to the fastest lap of 1 minute, 47.635 seconds for his fifth pole of the season.
Defending champion Marc Marquez will start from fifth after he crashed his Honda in the session.
Andrea Dovizioso could only manage the seventh-best time.
Marquez and Dovizioso are tied on 199 points heading into the 14th race of the 18-event season. Vinales is third with 183 points.
