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Movistar Yamaha MotoGP’s Jorge Lorenzo set a time of 1:54:989, breaking his own record to begin tomorrow’s Czech MotoGP at Brno in pole position. Behind him is reigning world champion Marc Marquez of Repsol Honda. The Spaniards have both had a strong racing season. While Lorenzo won 4 Grands Prix on the trot earlier this year, Marquez got off to a slower start, but won last week's Indianapolis Grand Prix in the United States of America.
In third behind the two Spaniards is the Doctor, Lorenzo’s teammate Valentino Rossi. The 6-time world champion is usually notoriously bad at qualifying sessions, but manages to come back incredibly on race day. Rossi, who has been on the podium every race of this season, has had 3 wins already, at the grands prix of Qatar, Argentina and the Dutch GP at Assen.
Despite the fact that Rossi has only been on the first row twice this year including today, he has managed some staggering finishes. The Italian veteran currently leads the drivers’ championship standings with 195 points, and his closest competitor is teammate Lorenzo who has 186.
Marquez trails the Movistar Yamaha teammates by just under 50 points, and considering their performances this year, it appears to be a bit of an arduous task for Marquez to catch the two up.
The second row is led by Ducati’s Andrea Iannone, who won his career first pole position earlier this year at the Italian Grand Prix, his home race. The rider had finished that race in 2nd behind Lorenzo.
Briton Bradley Smith will be behind Iannone, with the Italian’s Ducati teammate Andrea Dovizioso rounding up the second row.
Brothers Pol and Aleix Espargaro both began Q1 well, but in the end it was younger brother Pol who came out stronger. The Monster Yamaha rider is in Row 3 – incidentally behind Maverick Vinales, the teammate of his older brother Aleix at Suzuki Ecstar. The row was rounded off by Marquez’ Repsol Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa, who is struggling with an injured left foot ahead of tomorrow’s race.
