Honda rider Marc Marquez took a record breaking 13th pole position of the season at the Malaysian MotoGP Grand Prix, eclipsing the record jointly held by Australians Mick Doohan and Casey Stoner.
The Spaniard who wrapped up the MotoGP title in Motegi, clocked the Sepang Circuit in 1’59.791s, breaking the two minute barrier in the process.
Dani Pedrosa in the sister Honda will line up second while Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo ensured a Spanish front row MotoGP lockout in the South East Asian country. Pedrosa’s time of 1’59.791s was two tenths slower than Marquez while Lorenzo’s time was four tenths down on a track which he described as one of the worst for the factory Yamaha team.
Stefan Bradl took fourth in a customer Honda while Japan pole sitter Andrea Dovizioso qualified fifth for Ducati.
Valentino Rossi, who comes fresh from his victory in Australia, was not particularly happy with the set up of his bike and could only qualify in sixth place with a time that was half a second slower than his Yamaha teammate.
Aleix Espargaro was seventh quickest while his brother did not take part in MotoGP qualifying after breaking the second metatarsal bone in his left foot during practice earlier this morning. The Spanish rider will start from 12th place, if declared fit to race at Sepang. A decision regarding the same is expected tomorrow morning.
Having sustained a severe contusion to his left arm on Friday, Pramac’s Andrea Iannone flew home to Italy and won’t take part in any further sessions.
MOTO2: RABAT INCHES AWAY FROM TITLE AFTER SEPANG POLE
Esteve Rabat could sense the Moto2 title coming his way after taking pole position at a sunny and humid Sepang International Circuit.
Mika Kallio ensured a Marc VDS one-two at the front of the field but with a 41 gap between the two riders, the Finn can do little to prevent runaway championship leader Rabat from clinching the title at Sepang.
Away from the battle between the two championship rivals, Sandro Cortese qualified third, securing his fourth front row start of the season.
2013 Moto3 world champion Maverick Vinales was just as impressive in his customer Kalex, and will line up fourth on the grid ahead of Interwetten Sitag’s Thomas Luthi.
MOTO3: MILLER ON POLE, MARQUEZ SIXTH AFTER CRASH
In the Moto3 class, it was Australia’s Jack Miller who took pole position after championship leader Alex Marquez crashed out in qualifying at Sepang.
Miller lapped the 5.5km circuit in 2’12.450s to take his eighth pole position of the season, ahead of Saxo Print’s John McPhee and Calvo rider Jakub Kornfeil.
Alex Marquez crashed early in qualifying, bringing a premature end to his session. However, his earlier time of of 2'13.315 was enough to hold on to fifth place. The Spaniard would like to repeat his elder brother’s feat in Moto3, before stepping up to Moto2 next season.
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