Jorge Lorenzo smashes lap record, Rossi crashes in Valencia qualifying

Jorge Lorenzo set a new lap record at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia as he surged to pole position for the MotoGP title decider, while rival Valentino Rossi crashed.

Lorenzo posted two laps quick enough for pole position, the fastest a 1:30.011 to finish half a second clear of Marc Márquez.

Rossi finished last in Q2, academic due to his grid penalty, but fell at Turn 8 during the closing stages as his team-mate romped to top spot.

Dani Pedrosa was third for Honda, as Suzuki rider Aleix Espargaró scored fourth position after progressing from Q1.

Cal Crutchlow collected fifth for LCR Honda, ahead of Bradley Smith and Ducati's Andrea Iannone.

Pol Espargaró will start the race from eighth position, in front of Andrea Dovizioso and Danilo Petrucci.

Maverick Viñales suffered a huge crash in Q1 but remounted and qualified for Q2, where he set the 11th best time.

Ducati wild card rider Michele Pirro was the quickest of the riders who was unable to progress through to Q2 but will start from 12th place due to Rossi's penalty.

Stefan Bradl will line-up from 13th position from Aprilia, while Héctor Barberá crashed at Turn 2 en-route to 14th spot.

Loris Baz's Forward swansong will get underway from 15th place on the grid, ahead of Nicky Hayden, who will move to World Superbikes next year.

Yonny Hernández is set to start from 17th, ahead of Álvaro Bautista and Scott Redding, who slid out at Turn 1 during the fourth practice session.

Jack Miller, Mike di Meglio, Anthony West, Eugene Laverty – who suffered a crash early on at Turn 4 – Toni Elias and Broc Parkes completed the runners.

As a result of his sanction, Rossi will start the race from 26th position on the grid as he bids to hold on to his championship lead.