Marquez pips Petronas duo to maiden pole at Motegi

Motegi (Japan), Oct 19: Repsol Honda's Marc Marquez on Saturday took pole for the first time at Motegi in his Moto GP career. The 26-year-old, who confirmed an eighth World Championship win — his sixth in the premier class at the Thailand GP earlier in October — registered a best time of 1:45.763 in the second qualifier and will be starting at the top of the grid on Sunday.

The Spaniard thus now has a pole position in every circuit of the calendar year. 

He will be followed by the Petronas Yamaha SRT pair of Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Quartararo. While Morbidelli clocked 1:45.895 in the second qualifier on Saturday, Quartararo managed 1:45.944. 

Maverick Vinales of Yamaha is fourth with a time of 1:46.090 while LCR Honda CASTROL's Cal Crutchlow will start in fifth position having recorded a best time of 1:46.189. 

Pramac Racing's Jack Miller took up the sixth spot with a time of 1:46.337 and he will be followed Ducati duo Andrea Dovizioso and Danilo Petrucci with timings of 1:46.410 and 1:46.427 respectively. 

Aprila Racing's Aleix Esparago and Moto GP legend Valentino Rossi of Monster Energy Yamaha both had best times of 1:46.558 and it was the former who finished ninth due to him making the time in his seventh lap. Rossi on the other hand recorded the time in his eighth.