Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi stormed to pole position for Sunday's Grand Prix of Japan after clocking the fastest time in qualifying, resuming his campaign to overtake championship leader Marc Marquez. The Yamaha man timed 1min 43.954sec at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit Saturday to grab his third pole of the season, as he attempts to close a 52-point gap against Honda's Marquez, who will start from second on the grid after finishing 0.180sec behind the Italian, his closest championship rival.
Defending world champion Jorge Lorenzo overcame a spectacular crash earlier in the day and earned the third fastest lap in qualifying to claim a spot on the front row, clocking 0.267sec after his Yamaha teammate. The second row will be occupied by Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso, LCR Honda's Cal Crutchlow and Suzuki's Aleix Espargaro. Rossi said his team had struggled to find the right balance for their machine, while he himself felt weak.
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