Marc Marquez stunned the Silverstone crowd by setting a new lap record to secure pole position for the MotoGP British Grand Prix.
The reigning world champion dominated qualifying from start to finish as he broke the MotoGP lap record at the Northamptonshire circuit with his first flying lap.
Not content with his maiden effort, the Honda rider lowered the benchmark again with his last lap to post an impressive 2:00.234s.
Championship leader Jorge Lorenzo managed to split the factory Hondas in second with the Yamaha rider 0.288s adrift of his fellow countryman, while Dani Pedrosa completed the front row in third.
Title contender Valentino Rossi saved his best until the dying moments to haul himself to fourth on the grid ahead of Tech 3 Yamaha duo of Pol Espargaro and top Brit Bradley Smith.
Scott Redding also pleased his home crowd with a strong showing to secure seventh for Marc VDS Honda, ending the session in front of LCR Honda’s Cal Cruthclow and Ducati’s Andrea Iannone.
Suzuki’s Aleix Espargaro rounded out the top 10 with the Spanish rider joined on the fourth row by Pramac Ducati’s Yonny Hernandez and the factory Ducati of Andrea Dovizioso.
Australia’s Jack Miller produced an impressive ride to claim 16th spot on the grid aboard the Open class LCR Honda.
Result: MotoGP British Grand Prix Qualifying
Position | Rider | Bike | Time | Gap |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Marc Márquez | Honda | 2:00.234s | |
2 | Jorge Lorenzo | Yamaha | 2:00.522s | +0.288s |
3 | Daniel Pedrosa | Honda | 2:00.716s | +0.482s |
4 | Valentino Rossi | Yamaha | 2:00.947s | +0.713s |
5 | Pol Espargaró | Tech 3 Yamaha | 2:01.031s | +0.797s |
6 | Bradley Smith | Tech 3 Yamaha | 2:01.140s | +0.906s |
7 | Scott Redding | Marc VDS Honda | 2:01.329s | +1.095s |
8 | Cal Crutchlow | LCR Honda | 2:01.376s | +1.142s |
9 | Andrea Iannone | Ducati | 2:01.874s | +1.640s |
10 | Aleix Espargaró | Suzuki | 2:01.880s | +1.646s |
11 | Yonny Hernández | Pramac Ducati | 2:01.894s | +1.660s |
12 | Andrea Dovizioso | Ducati | 2:01.979s | +1.745s |
13 | Maverick Viñales | Suzuki | 2:02.016s | +1.782s |
14 | Stefan Bradl | Aprilia | 2:02.657s | +2.423s |
15 | Loris Baz | Forward Yamaha | 2:02.677s | +2.443s |
16 | Jack Miller | LCR Honda | 2:02.697s | +2.463s |
17 | Héctor Barberá | Avintia Ducati | 2:02.784s | +2.550s |
18 | Danilo Petrucci | Pramac Ducati | 2:02.800s | +2.566s |
19 | Eugene Laverty | Aspar Honda | 2:02.894s | +2.660s |
20 | Álvaro Bautista | Aprilia | 2:02.908s | +2.674s |
21 | Nicky Hayden | Aspar Honda | 2:02.946s | +2.712s |
22 | Mike Di Meglio | Avintia Ducati | 2:03.641s | +3.407s |
23 | Claudio Corti | Yamaha Forward | 2:03.789s | +3.555s |
24 | Karel Abraham | AB Honda | 2:04.133s | +3.899s |
25 | Alex de Angelis | ART/Aprilia | 2:04.304s | 4.070 |