Superb Sepang pole time from record breaker Marquez

MotoGP pole position at the Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix went to Marc Marquez, who notched a new premier class record 13th pole of the year. Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo join him on the front row after the Q2 battle.

Marquez (Repsol Honda) set a record-breaking time of 1'59.791s to secure pole ahead of teammate Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) who was 0.182s slower. The front row was completed by Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha) who set a 2'00.203s best lap.

Marquez is the first rider below the 2'00 mark on a race weekend at Sepang. This also marks his 50th career pole and 13th of the season, setting a new record.

Stefan Bradl (LCR Honda MotoGP) and Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) both qualified on the second row of the grid, both within a second of Marquez' blistering lap.

Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP), Aleix Espargaro (NGM Forward Racing), Cal Crutchlow (Ducati Team), Bradley Smith (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) and Alvaro Bautista (GO&FUN Honda Gresini) completed the top ten.

Pol Espargaro (Monster Yamaha Tech3) qualified in 12th having advanced to Q2 but then being unfit to participate due to a big FP3 crash, which saw him break a bone in his left foot. His fitness to race will be assessed on Sunday morning.

Hiroshi Aoyama (Drive M7 Aspar) fell early in the Q2 session having advanced from Q1. The Japanese rider still qualified in 11th due to Pol Espargaro not taking part.

Andrea Iannone (Pramac Racing) was declared unfit to participate further in the Grand Prix earlier in the day due to left arm injuries after his Friday crash left him struggling for strength and power.

Results

Pos Rider Team Bike Time Behind
1 Marc Marquez Honda Honda 1m59.791s 0.000s
2 Daniel Pedrosa Honda Honda 1m59.973s 0.182s
3 Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha Yamaha 2m00.203s 0.412s
4 Stefan Bradl LCR Honda 2m00.472s 0.681s
5 Andrea Dovizioso Ducati Ducati 2m00.703s 0.912s
6 Valentino Rossi Yamaha Yamaha 2m00.740s 0.949s
7 Aleix Espargaro Forward Racing Forward Yamaha 2m00.801s 1.010s
8 Cal Crutchlow Ducati Ducati 2m01.119s 1.328s
9 Bradley Smith Tech 3 Yamaha 2m01.263s 1.472s
10 Alvaro Bautista Gresini Racing Honda 2m02.294s 2.503s
11 Hiroshi Aoyama Aspar Honda 2m10.568s 10.777s
12 Pol Espargaro Tech 3 Yamaha 2m01.885s Q1
13 Yonny Hernandez Pramac Racing Ducati 2m02.184s Q1
14 Nicky Hayden Aspar Honda 2m02.330s Q1
15 Karel Abraham Cardion AB Motoracing Honda 2m02.548s Q1
16 Hector Barbera Avintia Racing Ducati 2m02.682s Q1
17 Scott Redding Gresini Racing Honda 2m02.874s Q1
18 Alex de Angelis Forward Racing Forward Yamaha 2m03.165s Q1
19 Danilo Petrucci IodaRacing Project ART/Aprilia 2m03.874s Q1
20 Michael Laverty Paul Bird Motorsport PBM/Aprilia 2m04.539s Q1
21 Mike Di Meglio Avintia Racing Avintia/Kawasaki 2m04.784s Q1
22 Broc Parkes Paul Bird Motorsport PBM/Aprilia 2m05.208s Q1