Marquez pips Petronas duo to maiden pole at Motegi

Motegi (Japan), Oct. 19 (IANS): Repsol Honda's Marc Marquez on Saturday took pole for the first time at Motegi in his Moto GP career. The 26-year-old, who confirmed an eighth World Championship win -- his sixth in the premier class at the Thailand GP earlier in October -- registered a best time of 1:45.763 in the second qualifier and will be starting at the top of the grid on Sunday. The Spaniard thus now has a pole position in every circuit of the calendar year. He will be followed by the Petronas Yamaha SRT pair of Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Quartararo. While Morbidelli clocked 1:45.895 in the second qualifier on Saturday, Quartararo managed 1:45.944. Maverick Vinales of Yamaha is fourth with a time of 1:46.090 while LCR Honda CASTROL's Cal Crutchlow will start in fifth position having recorded a best time of 1:46.189.