Marquez storms to pole at Czech MotoGP

BRNO, Czech Republic: Championship leader Marc Marquez grabbed the pole position for Sunday’s Czech Republic MotoGP at Brno after taking Saturday’s qualifying session by storm.
The 23-year-old Spanish Honda rider set a new record on the Brno circuit with 1min 54.596sec to take his fifth pole position of the season.
Reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo on a Yamaha, last year’s winner at Brno, was the first to break the circuit record on Saturday, only to come second in the end, trailing his compatriot Marquez by 0.253sec.
Italian Ducati rider Andrea Iannone, who won the last MotoGP in Austria last weekend, will complete the front row, finishing 0.631sec behind Marquez.
The second row comprises Spaniards Aleix Espargaro and Hector Barbera alongside Italian legend Valentino Rossi, the nine-time world champion who has won five top-class races at Brno.
After 10 of 18 grand prix this season, Marquez leads the overall standings on 181 points, ahead of Lorenzo with 138 and Rossi with 124.

Grid for Sunday’s Czech MotoGP at Brno after final qualifying on Saturday:

First row
1. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) 1min 54.596sec; 2. Jorge Lorenzo (ESP/Yamaha) at 0.253sec; 3. Andrea Iannone (ITA/Ducati) 0.631

Second row
4. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Suzuki) 0.728; 5. Hector Barbera (ESP/Ducati) 0.841; 6. Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) 0.913

Third row
7. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Ducati) 1.152; 8. Maverick Vinales (ESP/Suzuki) 1.191; 9. Dani Pedrosa (ESP/Honda) 1.245

Fourth row
10. Cal Crutchlow (GBR/Honda) 1.334; 11. Bradley Smith (GBR/Yamaha) 1.519; 12. Pol Espargaro (ESP/Yamaha) 1.926