MotoGP Austin: Marquez takes superb pole despite bike problems

Honda’s Marc Marquez took pole position for the Austin round of MotoGP world championship on Saturday, despite encountering issues with one of his bikes during the final few minutes of qualifying.

After the first runs in Q2, Marquez held provisional pole but his position at the front of the field came into question after the Spaniard was forced to park his bike along the pit straight with mechanical issues.

The 22 year old then climbed the pit wall, sprinted to the Honda garage, and set the fastest lap in his second bike to take pole position for tomorrow’s race.

Meanwhile, Qatar pole sitter Andrea Dovizioso qualified second ahead of the Yamaha pairing of two-time MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo and race 1 winner Valentino Rossi.

Cal Crutchlow briefly led the timesheets in the LCR Honda but fell down to fifth place at the chequered flag as others improved their lap times.

Scott Redding took sixth for Marc VDS with Andrea Iannone in the second Ducati lining up seventh.

Both the factory Suzukis made it into the second leg of qualifying with Aleix Espargaro eighth and Moto2 graduate Maverick Vinales finishing in 12th place.

MotoGP - Qualifying 2 results

1. Marc Marque (Honda) 2m2.135s
2. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) 2m2.474s +0.339s
3. Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) 2m2.540s +0.405s
4. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) 2m2.573s +0.438s
5. Cal Crutchlow  (LCR Honda) 2m2.613s +0.478s
6. Scott Redding (Estrella Galicia 0,0) 2m2.674s +0.539s
7. Andrea Iannone (Ducati) 2m2.792s +0.657s
8. Aleix Espargaro (Suzuki) 2m2.869s +0.734s
9. Pol Espargaro (Yamaha Tech 3)  2m3.161s +1.026s
10. Bradley Smith (Yamaha Tech 3) 2m3.440s +1.305s
11. Danilo Petrucci (Pramac Racing) 2m3.741s +1.606s
12. Maverick Viñales (Suzuki) 2m3.754s +1.619s

Moto2: Simeon pips Lowes for pole

Gresini’s Xavier Simeon reigned supreme in Moto2, after Speed Up Racing rider Sam Lowes crashed in qualifying for the Austin Grand Prix.

Lowes looked set to take pole position after bettering his practice time but a crash relegated him down to second place, ahead of defending Moto2 champion Tito Rabat.

Johann Zarco was fourth for Ajo motorsport and will be joined by Franco Morbidelli and Takaaki Nakagami on the second row of the grid.

Moto2 - Qualifying results(Top 10)

1. Xavier Simeon (Kalex) 2m09.888
2. Sam Lowes (Speed Up) 2m09.942
3. Tito Rabat (Kalex) 2m10.077
4. Johann Zarco (Kalex) 2m10.102
5. Franco Morbidelli (Kalex) 2m10.135
6. Takaaki Nakagami (Kalex) 2m10.194
7. Julian Simon (Speed Up) 2m10.261
8. Alex Rins (Kalex) 2m10.488
9. Dominique Aegerter (Kalex) 2m10.513
10. Marcel Schrotter (Tech 3) 2m10.548

Moto3: Kent sets the pace in qualifying

Earlier today, British Danny Kent stormed to pole position in the Moto3 class, outpacing Red Bull KTM Ajo of Miguel Oliveira by half a second.

Andrea Locatelli was third fastest in a customer Honda with Niccolo Antonelli slotting in fourth place. The two Estrella Galicia bikes qualified in fourth and fifth places while Francesco Bagnaia was the lead Mahindra runner in ninth position.

Moto3 - Qualifying results(Top 10)

1. Danny Kent Leopard Racing (Honda) 2m 15.344s
2. Miguel Oliveira Red Bull KTM Ajo (KTM) 2m 15.829s
3. Andrea Locatelli Gresini Racing Team Moto3 (Honda) 2m16.090s
4. Niccolò Antonelli Ongetta-Rivacold (Honda) 2m16.101s
5. Jorge Navarro Estrella Galicia 0,0 (Honda) 2m16.144s
6. Fabio Quartararo Estrella Galicia 0,0 (Honda) 2m16.150s
7. Isaac Viñales Husqvarna Factory Laglisse (Husqvarna) 2m16.335s
8. Enea Bastianini Gresini Racing Team Moto3 (Honda) 2m16.400s
9. Francesco Bagnaia MAPFRE Team MAHINDRA (Mahindra) 2m16.417s
10. Alexis Masbou SAXOPRINT RTG (Honda) 2m16.576s