Marc Marquez will start from pole for the final grand prix of 2013. Image: MotoGP.com.

MotoGP points leader Marc Marquez will start on pole for the final grand prix of 2013 in Valencia, registering a record 1m30.237 lap of the Spanish circuit to edge title rival Jorge Lorenzo out of top spot.

After Repsol Honda’s Marquez set a new benchmark in the earlier free practice, it was Yamaha Factory Racing’s Lorenzo who grabbed the early advantage in qualifying, breaking Dani Pedrosa’s previous pole record on his first flying lap.

Marquez, however, would reclaim top spot late in the session, benefiting from engine problems which plagued Lorenzo and forced him to his second bike.

The second factory Honda of Pedrosa completed the front row as has been the case for much of the season, with row two featuring three Yamahas – Valentino Rossi, Cal Crutchlow and Bradley Smith.

Bryan Staring was again the leader of the two Australian riders in the class, qualifying his GO&FUN Gresini Honda CRT in 23rd with a 1m34.805 lap.

Damian Cudlin finished line of stern behind his countryman, a 1m34.903 lap putting the Paul Bird Motorsport-mounted rider in 24th for the final grand prix of 2013.

Pol Espargaro (Tuenti HP 40) will head up the Moto2 grid in his final race in the second-tier class, qualifying a comfortable 0.318s clear of Simone Corsi (NGM Mobile Racing) and breaking his own record in the process.

Espargaro dipped beneath the elusive 1m35s benchmark, the only rider to achieve the feat, and has now headed every session of the Valencia event.

Completing the front row is Jordi Torres (Aspar Team Moto2), with Esteve Rabat, Thom Luthi and Nico Terol occupying fourth through sixth respectively on row two.

While gains were made in speed for Aussie Ant West, he was bumped slightly back in the order based upon his Friday efforts and will chase another point-scoring finish from 21st on the grid for the QMMF Racing Team.

The Moto3 qualifying session reflected the high-pressure showdown as the title comes to a head, with Alex Rins, Luis Salom and Maverick Vinales locking out the front row, just 0.285 seconds apart.

Aussie Jack Miller delivered another stellar showing, with his 1m40.043 lap just over half a second off the leaders’ pace, placing him fifth.

For Arthur Sissis it was a tough session, with the second Australian in class battling to 23rd, making for a tough task ahead of the Spanish finale.

2013 MotoGP World Championship
Round 18 – Valencia, Spain

MotoGP qualifying:
1. Marc MARQUEZ 1m30.237
2. Jorge LORENZO 1m30.577
3. Dani PEDROSA 1m30.663
4. Valentino ROSSI 1m30.920
5. Cal CRUTCHLOW 1m31.113
6. Bradley SMITH 1m31.201
7. Alvaro BAUTISTA 1m31.594
8. Stefan BRADL 1m31.638
9. Andrea DOVIZIOSO 1m31.718
10. Nicky HAYDEN 1m31.870
11. Andrea IANNONE 1m31.963
12. Danilo PETRUCCI 1m33.116
13. Hector BARBERA 1m32.773
14. Aleix ESPARGARO 1m32.807
15. Claudio CORTI 1m32.961
16. Yonny HERNANDEZ 1m32.966
17. Michele PIRRO 1m32.966
18. Colin EDWARDS 1m33.203
19. Hiroshi AOYAMA 1m33.328
20. Randy DE PUNIET 1m33.869
23. Bryan STARING (AUS) 1m34.805
24. Damian CUDLIN (AUS) 1m34.903

Moto2 qualifying:
1. Pol ESPARGARO 1m34.957
2. Simone CORSI 1m35.275
3. Jordi TORRES 1m35.352
4. Esteve RABAT 1m35.359
5. Thomas LUTHI 1m35.363
6. Nicolas TEROL 1m35.363
7. Alex DE ANGELIS 1m35.397
8. Johann ZARCO 1m35.412
9. Xavier SIMEON 1m35.469
10. Takaaki NAKAGAMI 1m35.608
11. Dominique AEGERTER 1m35.679
12. Mika KALLIO 1m35.737
13. Gino REA 1m35.778
14. Sandro CORTESE 1m35.844
15. Julian SIMON 1m35.888
16. Mattia PASINI 1m36.040
17. Scott REDDING 1m36.065
18. Ricard CARDUS 1m36.192
19. Marcel SCHROTTER 1m36.211
20. Randy KRUMMENACHER 1m36.246
21. Anthony WEST (AUS) 1m36.250

Moto3 qualifying:
1. Alex RINS 1m39.459
2. Luis SALOM 1m39.475
3. Maverick VIÑALES 1m39.744
4. Jonas FOLGER 1m39.836
5. Jack MILLER 1m40.043
6. Niccolò ANTONELLI 1m40.365
7. Alex MARQUEZ 1m40.474
8. Alexis MASBOU 1m40.581
9. Zulfahmi KHAIRUDDIN 1m40.627
10. Efren VAZQUEZ 1m40.630
11. Romano FENATI 1m40.653
12. Brad BINDER 1m40.703
13. Ana CARRASCO 1m40.765
14. Philipp OETTL 1m40.800
15. Niklas AJO 1m40.8133
16. John MCPHEE 1m40.814
17. Miguel OLIVEIRA 1m40.979
18. Jasper IWEMA 1m40.997
19. Isaac VIÑALES 1m41.032
20. Jakub KORNFEIL 1m41.071
23.Arthur SISSIS (AUS) 1m41.195

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