Lorenzo rockets to Qatar pole

Jorge Lorenzo has blown away his opposition to take the first pole position of the 2016 MotoGP season in style, beating runner-up Marc Marquez by 0.091 in a surprise front row rounded out by Maverick Viñales.

The ultra-fast Ducatis that many expected to challenge for pole position were instead relegated to the second row, with Andrea Iannone and Andrea Dovizioso split by Valentino Rossi in fifth, who was pleased with his performance after admitting that he needs to improve his qualifying performance in 2016.

Dani Pedrosa led the first of the satellite bikes, the Avintia Ducati of Hector Barbera, on the third row, with Pol Espargaro rounding out the row in ninth.

Meanwhile, row four was an all-British affair, with Qualifying One promoted riders Cal Crutchlow and Bradley Smith leading Scott Redding, who admitted afterwards to going the wrong way with his Pramac Ducati’s settings.

Eugene Laverty also impressed, coming through to fourteenth just behind teammate Yonny Hernandez after a major breakthrough with the Aspar Honda. The second factory Suzuki of Aleix Espargaro rounded out the top fifteen.