Source: MotoGP

Marc Marquez has secured a predictable yet still extremely impressive pole position ahead of the US Grand Prix in Texas, claiming a new lap record at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA).

The Repsol Honda rider was comfortably quickest in the free practice prior to qualifying, enjoying a 0.745-second advantage over the field.

The Spanish rider built upon this momentum in the decisive afternoon session, his record 2m02.773 lap comfortably securing an 11th career pole by 0.289 seconds from factory Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa.

A solid effort from Stefan Bradl netted the German third place, making it an all-Honda front row for the second race of the season.

Conversely it is an all-Yamaha second row, with NGM Forward Racing’s Aleix Espargaro again upstaging favoured factory entrants. Espargaro grabbed fourth from Movistar Yamaha riders Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi, with the margin between positions three to five just 0.004 seconds.

Beyond the second row the deficit to seventh-placed Cal Crutchlow aboard Ducati machinery extends beyond one second, with Bradley Smith eighth next to his countryman and the Pramac Ducati of Andrea Iannone ninth.

Andrea Dovizioso completes the top 10 grid placings, with Pol Espargaro 11th and Alvaro Bautista a disappointing 12th after missing the Q2 cutoff.

Aussie Broc Parkes managed to make headway on just his second day of riding at the flowing COTA, qualifying his Paul Bird Motorsport racer in 21st with a 2m07.403 lap.

A late charge proved fruitful for Marc VDS Racing Team rider Esteve Rabat who will start the Moto2 race from pole position.

The Qatar winner held out AirAsia Caterham’s Johann Zarco by 0.266 seconds, with Dominique Aegerter in close quarters, claiming third for Technomag carXpert.

Xavier Simeon, Julian Simon and Maverick Vinales make up row two, with Jonas Folger, Simone Corsi and Takaaki Nakagami completing the third row.

Anthony West secured a seventh row start for the QMMF Racing Team, retaining his relative placing from free practice with a 2m11.893 lap.

Aussie sensation Jack Miller was again the highlight in Moto3, this time producing a circuit-best 2m16.342 effort to claim a career-first pole position aboard his Red Bull KTM machine.

Miller’s day began in solid fashion, with consistent times in the free practice placing him in his now customary position at the head of the field.

Windy conditions in qualifying were troublesome but ultimately couldn’t prevent the Aussie from winding up to deliver the class benchmark lap on just his seventh attempt.

He qualified 0.347 seconds ahead of Honda’s Efren Vaquez, with Alex Rins third, Alex Marquez fourth and Niccolo Antonelli fifth.

Mahindra Racing’s Arthur Sissis has a tough assignment ahead of him if he is to score points, qualifying 26th.

2014 MotoGP World Championship

Round two – Circuit of the Americas, United States

MotoGP qualifying results:
1. Marc MARQUEZ 2m02.773
2. Dani PEDROSA 2m03.062
3. Stefan BRADL 2m03.196
4. Aleix ESPARGARO 2m03.240
5. Jorge LORENZO 2m03.243
6. Valentino ROSSI 2m03.244
7. Cal CRUTCHLOW 2m03.780
8. Bradley SMITH 2m03.800
9. Andrea IANNONE 2m03.842
10. Andrea DOVIZIOSO 2m03.846
21. Broc PARKES (AUS) 2m07.403

Moto2 qualifying results:
1. Esteve RABAT 2m10.135
2. Johann ZARCO 2m10.401
3. Dominique AEGERTER 2m10.422
4. Xavier SIMEON 2m10.666
5. Julian SIMON 2m10.702
6. Maverick VIÑALES 2m10.708
7. Jonas FOLGER 2m10.748
8. Simone CORSI 2m10.789
9. Takaaki NAKAGAMI 2m10.851
10. Marcel SCHROTTER 2m10.857
19. Anthony WEST (AUS) 2m11.893

Moto3 qualifying results:
1. Jack MILLER (AUS) 2m16.342
2. Efren VAZQUEZ 2m16.689
3. Alex RINS 2m16.898
4. Alex MARQUEZ 2m17.352
5. Niccolò ANTONELLI 2m17.380
6. Jakub KORNFEIL 2m17.524
7. Alexis MASBOU 2m17.552
8. Romano FENATI 2m17.603
9. Isaac VIÑALES 2m17.647
10. Brad BINDER 2m17.958
26. Arthur SISSIS (AUS) 2m19.251

Click here for detailed results