MotoGP 2016: Lorenzo beats Marquez for Qatar GP pole

The 2016 FIM Motorcycle Grand Prix championship got underway yesterday with qualifying for the Qatar Grand Prix at the Losail International Circuit as defending MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo took pole on board his Yamaha ahead of Honda's Marc Marquez and Suzuki's Maverick Vinales.

former seven-time MotoGP champion and Lorenzo's Yamaha teammate Valentino Rossi was fifth on the grid in a qualifying session that revealed the discord between the two that had been carried over from last year's incredibly tense title battle. Rossi ran into Lorenzo at a right-hander while on a hot lap as the Spaniard was slowing down and had to back off and go wide to avoid him.

Following the qualifying session, Rossi stated that he felt Lorenzo deserved a penatly for the incident. Rossi has been outspoken in his criticism of Lorenzo of late and even roped in former two-time MotoGP champion Marquez who he accused of helping the former simply because they are compatriots.

To respond to Lorenzo on the track, however, Rossi will have to ward off the Ducatis of Andrea Iannone and Andrea Dovizioso, who qualified ahead one place ahead of and behind the Italian, respectively.

Marquez's Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa will line up seventh on the grid ahead of the satellite Ducati, Yamaha and Honda of Hector Barbera, Pol Espargaro and Cal Crutchlow, respectively, who round out the top ten.