(Reuters) – Title-challenger Jorge Martin of Pramac Racing secured his third pole position of the season at the Thailand Grand Prix by setting a lap record on Saturday, with VR46 Racing’s Luca Marini and Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro joining him on the front row.
Championship leader and reigning world champion Francesco Bagnaia, who leads Martin by 27 points in the standings, will only start in sixth on Sunday, behind Italian compatriot Marco Bezzecchi of VR46 Racing and KTM’s Brad Binder.
“I just look about myself. I am strong, and this is the most important thing,” the 25-year-old Martin said after his performance, including the record 1 minute 29.287 second lap.
“I did not expect to do 29.2, I think that is a very good lap… I feel more strong for tomorrow and today (sprint race). I think we can battle for both the races,” the Spaniard said.
Last year’s poleman, Bezzecchi, could not repeat his heroics at the Chang International Circuit, despite leading minutes before the end of the final qualifying. He will start fourth.
The Marquez brothers, Marc Marquez and Alex Marquez topped Q1, with the Gresini Racing rider coming ahead of the six-time MotoGP champion, who also has the most wins at Buriram.
Alex Marquez managed to finish seventh and Marc Marquez eighth in the final session.
Maverick Vinales of Aprilia, French duo Fabio Quartararo and Johann Zarco and Augusto Fernandez occupied the remaining positions.
Vinales and Quartararo showed promising pace but could only secure ninth and tenth places, respectively.
(Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru; Editing by William Mallard)
