Marc Marquez has opened the MotoGP season in dazzling style with a record-breaking lap to secure pole for the Portuguese Grand Prix while Australian star Jack Miller has also shone on his new KTM, qualifying fifth fastest.
On his Honda, six-time champion Marquez reminded everyone of his greatness with a remarkable last-gasp lap on Saturday, breaking the circuit record at Portimao in a sizzling 1 minute 37.226 seconds.
It was a fantastic ending to a session which was given a spectacular start when Queenslander Miller recorded the first of four new lap records to be set during the morning.
Spaniard Marquez had set the first to top the first qualifying session but it lasted just a few minutes as Miller, whose new Red Bull KTM machine had demonstrated no great pace in previous tests this winter, set a new mark of 1:37.549.
Miller, who'd made the switch from his factory Ducati role, decided to go out again, but this time suffered a crash at turn three just as his old teammate, reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia, was breaking the record again.
Marquez then delivered his masterful lap for his first pole since the Japanese Grand Prix last year, a surprise outcome given his struggles in pre-season testing as well as Friday's practice.
"I can't explain, I do not understand the situation. Yesterday we were struggling a lot but today we improved the small details and I improved myself," Marquez said.
Marquez will be joined on the front row with Bagnaia and Pramac Racing's Jorge Martin, while Miguel Oliveira starts fourth on the second row with Miller and Enea Bastianini alongside him.
The riders will also line up in the same grid order for the first sprint race under Moto GP's new format which will be held later on Saturday.
With Reuters
