The Sunday News
Termas de Rio Hondo — Reigning world champion Marc Marquez clinched his third pole position of the season and 12th of his career when he qualified fastest for today’s Argentina MotoGP, the first in the South American country for 15 years.
The Spaniard, who has won both races so far this season in Doha and Austin was 0.742 quicker on his Honda than 2010 and 2012 world champion Jorge Lorenzo on a Yamaha.
Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa was third in qualifying to complete the front row.
“I didn’t think I would go so quickly today,” said Marquez, who has also been fastest in the three practice sessions.
“On Sunday (today), we will have to see what the temperature is like and the state of the tyres will be very important as it is a very long race,” said 21-year-old Marquez.
Aleix Espargaro, on a Yamaha, Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso and nine-time champion Valentino Rossi, on the second factory Yamaha, fill the second row for today’s race.
Bradley Smith, on a Yamaha, leads the third row, ahead of Andrea Iannone on a Ducati and Germany’s Stefan Bradl on a Honda.
Bradley survived a big highside but still looked shaken by the crash at the end of the session.
Alvaro Bautista, Pol Espargaro and Nicky Hayden will start from the fourth row. — AFP.
