The Italian, who lives nearby the circuit, did to the 250 class what Casey Stoner earlier did to the MotoGP class and pulled well clear of the rest of the field.
It was a close battle for pole until six minutes to go, when Simoncelli posted an incredible 1:38.400 to go seven tenths clear at the top.
Thomas Luthi was first to close the gap, with a 1:39.1, but Hector Barbera pinched second place from him just seconds later, breaking into the 1:38s.
Hiroshi Aoyama was fourth on the first of the KTMs, ahead of Yuki Takahashi and Julian Simon.
Simoncelli's nearest title rival, Mika Kallio, could only manage seventh fastest and even that took a last-gasp effort after he was outside the top ten for most of the session.
But the third and fourth placed riders in the championship had an even worse time. Alex Debon and Alvaro Bautista, who finished first and second last time out at Brno, were 15th and 12th quickest respectively.
Pos Rider Team Time Laps 1. Marco Simoncelli Metis Gilera 1:38.400 21 2. Hector Barbera Team Toth Aprilia 1:38.912 + 0.512 21 3. Thomas Luthi Emmi - Caffe Latte 1:39.109 + 0.709 23 4. Hiroshi Aoyama Red Bull KTM 250 1:39.233 + 0.833 22 5. Yuki Takahashi JiR Team Scot 250 1:39.420 + 1.020 20 6. Julian Simon Repsol KTM 250cc 1:39.476 + 1.076 21 7. Mika Kallio Red Bull KTM 250 1:39.504 + 1.104 22 8. Mattia Pasini Polaris World 1:39.546 + 1.146 22 9. Hector Faubel Mapfre Aspar Team 1:39.551 + 1.151 21 10. Aleix Espargaro Lotus Aprilia 1:39.677 + 1.277 20 11. Roberto Locatelli Metis Gilera 1:39.828 + 1.428 19 12. Alvaro Bautista Mapfre Aspar Team 1:39.853 + 1.453 22 13. Lukas Pesek Auto Kelly - CP 1:39.956 + 1.556 19 14. Fabrizio Lai Campetella Racing 1:40.176 + 1.776 19 15. Alex Debon Lotus Aprilia 1:40.186 + 1.786 21 16. Eugene Laverty Blusens Aprilia 1:40.317 + 1.917 19 17. Karel Abraham Cardion AB Motoracing 1:40.360 + 1.960 21 18. Ratthapark Wilairot Thai Honda PTT SAG 1:40.407 + 2.007 20 19. Alex Baldolini Matteoni Racing 1:40.732 + 2.332 20 20. Federico Sandi Matteoni Racing 1:42.099 + 3.699 20 21. Manuel Hernandez Blusens Aprilia 1:43.150 + 4.750 21 22. Doni Tata Pradita Yamaha Pertamina Indonesia 1:43.372 + 4.972 21 23. Simone Grotzkyj Campetella Racing 1:43.386 + 4.986 19 24. Toni Wirsing Racing Team Germany 1:43.421 + 5.021 18 25. Imre Toth Team Toth Aprilia 1:44.447 + 6.047 18
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