Marc Marquez on pole for MotoGP title decider

ByReuters

Updated 11/11/2017 at 15:17 GMT

Honda's Marc Marquez was perfectly placed for his fourth MotoGP title in five years after seizing pole position for Sunday's season-ending Valencia Grand Prix while sole rival Andrea Dovizioso qualified ninth.

Marc Marquez (Honda HRC) - Grand Prix of Valencia 2017

Image credit: Getty Images

The 24-year-old Spaniard, who need finish only 11th to be champion, took the top slot on the grid for the eighth time this season despite a crash on his final run in qualifying.

His mid-session time of one minute 29.897 seconds was 0.349 quicker than French rider Johann Zarco on a Tech3 Yamaha with Suzuki's Andrea Iannone third.

Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo, a triple MotoGP champion and Dovizioso's Ducati team mate, also crashed but qualified in fourth place.

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