Marquez takes first pole in three years

SIX-TIME MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez grabbed pole position for the first time in three years as he defied wild weather in qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix at the Motegi circuit yesterday.

On a badly disrupted day of rain and lightning at Motegi, the world title contenders struggled to master the conditions.

Spanish great Marquez had no such trouble, however, on his Honda, with his leading time of 1 minute 55.214 seconds, ahead of France’s Johann Zarco, aboard a Ducati, 0.208 seconds behind, and South Africa’s Brad Binder, on a KTM, 0.323 seconds adrift.

The 29-year-old Marquez last took pole more than 1 000 days ago, again in Japan.

This was his 63rd MotoGP pole. “Really happy to be on pole today,” he said, adding that it was “really important for me … to achieve this small target”.

But he cautioned: “Tomorrow (Sunday) in the dry will be a different race and different story.”

Of the trio of title challengers, Spain’s Aleix Espargaro was bestplaced at sixth for Aprilia, with reigning world champion Fabio Quartararo ninth on his Yamaha.

Francesco Bagnaia, who has slashed Quartararo’s championship lead to 10 points with five races left in the season, was 12th on his Ducati.

There are 17 points separating the top three in the title race.

But the day was all about Marquez. He only returned to action last weekend, having been on the sidelines since June when he underwent an operation on his right arm, which was fractured in a racing accident in July 2020.

Marquez said his physical condition meant he “can’t go full attack” today, but he is enjoying riding without pressure.

“No pressure means even if I finish on the second row, it’s okay,” Marquez said.

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