Friday 19 / April / 2024
Valencia: Honda's Marc Marquez was perfectly placed for his fourth MotoGP title in five years after seizing pole position for Sunday's season-ending Valencia Grand Prix while sole rival Andrea Dovizioso qualified ninth.
The 24-year-old Spaniard, who need finish only 11th to be champion, took the top slot on the grid for the eighth time this season despite a crash on his final run in qualifying.
His mid-session time of one minute and 29.897 seconds was 0.349 quicker than French rider Johann Zarco on a Tech3 Yamaha with Suzuki's Andrea Iannone third.
Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo, a triple MotoGP champion and Dovizioso's Ducati teammate, also crashed but qualified in fourth place.
Marquez leads Dovizioso by 21 points with 25 still available.
