MOTEGI, Japan — Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi stormed to pole position for Sunday’s Grand Prix of Japan after clocking the fastest time in qualifying, resuming his campaign to overtake championship leader Marc Marquez.
The Yamaha man timed 1min 43.954sec at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit Saturday to grab his third pole of the season, as he attempts to close a 52-point gap against Honda’s Marquez, who will start from second on the grid after finishing 0.180sec behind the Italian, his closest championship rival.
Defending world champion Jorge Lorenzo overcame a spectacular crash earlier in the day and earned the third fastest lap in qualifying to claim a spot on the front row, clocking 0.267sec after his Yamaha teammate.
The second row will be occupied by Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso, LCR Honda’s Cal Crutchlow and Suzuki’s Aleix Espargaro.
His Yamaha teammate Lorenzo was also content with his performance after being launched from his bike in the morning. He was airlifted to a hospital to check for head trauma but was quickly declared fit for the race.
He was not able to stand up immediately after the crash. After the incident, helped by painkillers and adrenaline, Lorenzo said his bike started to feel better and his lap times began to improve.
His crash came a day after a nasty fall during Friday’s practice by Dani Pedrosa, who broke his collarbone and flew back to Spain for an operation.
Andrea Migno will start from pole position in the Moto3 category.
Defending Moto2 world champion Johann Zarco secured pole position.
