(Reuters) – Jorge Martin of Pramac Racing set a lap record and stormed to his second pole position of the season at the Japanese Grand Prix on Saturday, with championship leader Francesco Bagnaia and last year’s winner Jack Miller joining the Spaniard on the front row.
Martin secured his spot atop the timesheets by improving on Brad Binder’s Friday mark with a time of 1.43.198.
“I feel strong and making the record in Motegi is always special. I really enjoy this track, so I’m really happy,” Martin said.
“I feel competitive… let’s try to do it again, let’s try to win.”
VR46 Racing’s Marco Bezzecchi, who comfortably won the inaugural Indian Grand Prix last week, launched through the gravel early in the session but was able to make his way back to the Mobility Resort Motegi soon after, recovering in fourth.
Binder of KTM will start fifth on the gird.
Marc Marquez, who has won the Japanese Grand Prix on five occasions before, finished seventh after topping the first qualifying session, where the six-times champion was joined by Spanish compatriot Raul Fernandez of RNF in second.
(Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru; Editing by Michael Perry)
