News 21 Aug 2016

Marquez marches to Brno MotoGP pole position

Four factory manufacturers inside the top four on the grid.

Source: Supplied.

Source: Supplied.

Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) has taken pole position in Brno, as the points leader in the title fight left it late to overcome an ominous-looking Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) in the final minutes of Q2.

Marquez pulled out an incredible laptime in the session, including overtaking the provisional pole-sitter Lorenzo’s Yamaha teammate Valentino Rossi into the final corner in a spectacular move up the inside.

Marquez had an orange first sector after Lorenzo’s second attempt saw him move further clear at the top, before the timing screens went red in sector two and three, with the final part of the track the decider.

With two tenths to play with, Marquez came up behind the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 of Pol Espargaro and Movistar Yamaha of Rossi at the final corner, and slotted between the two through the final apex to take a stylishly record-breaking P1.

Lorenzo has shown sublime form all Saturday in Brno, including proving the first man to break the lap record in FP3, and also topped FP4 before just losing the pole position to compatriot and championship rival Marquez.

Lorenzo’s race pace looks ominous however, with memories of his domination in Brno in 2015 also sure to be high in rivals’ minds.

Ducati Team’s Andrea Iannone had an up and down Saturday before just pipping Aleix Espargaro (Team Suzuki Ecstar) to complete the front row, with a technical issue earlier in the day and a crash.

Iannone was the last man to cross the line and had to wheel the bike back up pit lane to parc ferme after not having realized how far up the grid he had qualified, enjoying another front row start.

Behind Espargaro in P5 was Hector Barbera (Avintia Racing), who recovered from a difficult FP3 for a great qualifying result. The Spaniard beat nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi to the top five, as the Italian completes row two in sixth.

Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) had a number of issues in the session and got out of sync as he changed the front tyre and tried to make the best of the limited time, but managed a seventh-place result ahead of the second Maverick Vinales (Team Suzuki).

Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa completed the third row in ninth after moving up from Q1, ahead of LCR Honda rider Cal Crutchlow to round out the top 10.

Marquez’ pole takes the Spaniard equal on pole positions with Movistar Yamaha MotoGP pairing Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi, with the top three men in the title fight now tied on a record 63 pole positions each across all classes.

Intermediate class title defender Johann Zarco (Ajo Motorsport) has taken pole position for the Moto2 race in the Czech GP, as the Frenchman took the top spot on his final lap in a session interrupted by a red flag.

Just behind the points leader in the middle of the front row will be Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2), ahead of Alex Marquez (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS), who put in a stunning session to take P3 and his first front row.

Of the two Australians in the field, rookie Remy Gardner (Tasca Racing Scuderia) was 21st, while Queensland veteran Anthony West (Montaze Broz Racing Team) wound up 29th.

Red Bull KTM Ajo rider Brad Binder claimed a last dash Moto3 pole position at Brno, topping the timesheets in the final few seconds. Sky Racing Team VR46 rider Andrea Migno qualified in P2, ahead of compatriot Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing).

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