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.
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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.
