Marquez on pole for Aragon showdown

MotoGP Championship leader Marc Márquez will start the Aragón Grand Prix from pole position after he set the quickest time during qualifying.

Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team
Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team

Márquez smashed his own lap record at MotorLand Aragón as his time of 1:47.187 was seven-tenths of a second faster than his effort from 2013.

Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa briefly took top spot during the closing moments of the session but Márquez's final flying lap left him 0.362s up front at the head of the field.

Andrea Iannone, riding Ducati's updated bike, rounded out the front row of the grid in third place, ahead of Pol Espargaró and Ducati's Cal Crutchlow.

Valentino Rossi had to participate in Q1 after a poor final practice session but he was able to set the sixth fastest time in Q2, with Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo seventh.

Stefan Bradl claimed eighth, with Andrea Dovizioso ninth after crashing on his last lap on the entry to Turn eight. Aleix Espargaró was 10th.

Bradley Smith was 11th after crashing as he began his final run, while Héctor Barberá did well to progress through to Q2 but couldn't set a time due to a mechanical problem.

Yonny Hernández was the quickest rider unable to progress from Q1 and will start the race from 13th position, ahead of Hiroshi Aoyama and Álvaro Bautista.

Scott Redding was 16th fastest, with Karel Abraham, who was uninjured following a big crash during the final moments of the session, and the returning Nicky Hayden in close contention.

Alex de Angelis will line up in 19th, ahead of Danilo Petrucci, Michael Laverty, Broc Parkes and Mike di Meglio.