Thailand Grand Prix: MotoGP leader Marc Marquez celebrated his 50th pole position
- Country:
- Thailand
MotoGP leader Marc Marquez celebrated his 50th pole position at the inaugural Thailand Grand Prix on Saturday, holding off Valentino Rossi late in a pulsating qualifying.
Four-times world champion Marquez lapped the Buriram circuit in one minute 30.088 seconds on his Honda, pipping Yamaha's veteran Rossi by 0.011 seconds on a scorching hot day.
Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso took the third spot on the front row, with Yamaha-rider Maverick Vinales fourth.
Marquez, on 246 points, holds a commanding 72-point lead in the championship race ahead of second-placed Dovizioso with five races left in the series.
Ducati rider Jorge Lorenzo, fourth in the championship, earlier pulled out of the race weekend after injuring his wrist during a heavy fall in Friday's second practice.
(With inputs from agencies.)