'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
In a thrilling finish, Jorge Lorenzo of Spain took pole position in the Japan GP with a time of 1:47.990 in the qualifying round of the three-day event on Saturday. His Yamaha teammate Valentini Rossi finished in second place with a time of 1:47.871.
Honda’s Marc Marquez finished in third place with a time of 1:44.216. In the process of his pole position, Lorenzo also set the fastest lap in cloudy conditions and used a two-pit-stop strategy after finding it difficult on the front end during the opening run.
Lorenzo is currently in second position in the overall standings with a tally of 249 points, 14 behind his teammate Rossi who has 263 points to his credit. Marquez is in third place with 184 points followed by Andrea Iannone of Italy who has 172 points. If the qualifying is anything to go by, then we are surely going to have a cracker of a race and the duel between Rossi and Lorenzo is also sure to keep everybody on their toes.
