Former two-time MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo took his first pole position of the 2015 season at the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez in front of defending champion Marc Marquez.
Lorenzo powered his factory Yamaha around the Circuito de Jerez to a time of 1:37.910, which was a new qualifying lap record for the 4.423 km circuit. Honda factory rider Marquez was second with a lap 0.390 seconds slower than Lorenzo and 0.168 seconds ahead of Ducati's Andrea Iannone.
In an incredible close session the riders from second place to eighth were separated by just 0.523 seconds.
The winner of the last round at Argentina and former seven-time MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi was fifth, albeit 0.722 seconds behind Yamaha teammate Lorenzo.
Rossi has, however, made it a habit throughout his career of saving his best for raceday and his chase of Marquez in Argentina was proof of that as his win propelled him to the top of the riders' championship standings.
With no wins to his name as yet, and suffering one problem or another, Lorenzo is yet to claim a win this MotoGP season and is currently fourth in the riders' championship and 29 points behind Rossi. He is, remarkably, one point ahead of Marquez due to consistent points finishes.
Moto2: Rabat on pole
Defending Moto2 champion Tito Rabat took pole position with a time of 1:42.784, ahead of Alex Rins and Jonas Folger. Current championship leader in the Moto2 class Johann Zarco will start in ninth due to crashing out in the early stages of the qualifying session.
Moto3: Quartararo claims maiden pole position
Sixteen-year-old Quartararo took his first ever pole position in the Moto3 category with a time of 1:46.791 ahead of Danny Kent and Miguel Oliveira. Kent almost stole the top spot from Quartararo but encountered a slowing rider on his final qualifying attempt when he was the fastest through the first two sectors of the circuit.
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