MotoGP qualifying: Marc Marquez on pole for Sunday's race in Texas
Saturday 11 April 2015 22:43, UK
Marc Marquez claimed pole position for Sunday's Americas MotoGP in Texas with a stunning late flying lap.
The reigning two-time world champion, on a Honda, was 0.339 of a second clear of Italian Andrea Dovizioso’s Ducati.
Marquez’s Spanish compatriot Jorge Lorenzo was third quickest, while three Britons finished in the top 10.
Cal Crutchlow and Scott Redding were fifth and sixth respectively, with Bradley Smith 10th.
Yet Marquez came close to missing out on pole after stopping on the Austin circuit with just a few minutes remaining of the session.
However, he ran over to the pit lane to collect his second Repsol Honda and proceeded to post the fastest time ever recorded on two wheels at the track – two minutes, 02.135 seconds.
It was his 23rd pole in MotoGP and, in Sunday’s race, will hope to improve on his fifth place finish at the opening meeting in Qatar where Valentino Rossi was victorious.
Italian Rossi set the fourth fastest time at the Circuit of America on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Briton Danny Kent is on pole for the Moto3 race.
MotoGP Qualifying times:
1 Marc Marquez (Esp) Honda 2:02.135
2 Andrea Dovizioso (Ita) Ducati + 0.339s
3 Jorge Lorenzo (Esp) Yamaha + 0.405
4 Valentino Rossi (Ita) Yamaha + 0.438
5 Cal Crutchlow (Britain) Honda + 0.478
6 Scott Redding (Britain) Honda + 0.539
7 Andrea Iannone (Italy) Ducati + 0.657
8 Aleix Espargaro (Spain) Suzuki + 0.734
9 Pol Espargaro (Spain) Yamaha + 1.026
10 Bradley Smith (Britain) Yamaha + 1.305
