Malaysian Moto GP: Pedrosa grabs pole in thrilling qualifier

Honda rider clocks 1min 59.212sec, only 17-thousandths quicker than Zarco

SEPANG: Dani Pedrosa snatched pole position in the dying seconds of a thrilling qualifying session for the Malaysian MotoGP on Saturday as world title hopeful Marc Marquez recovered from a crash to finish seventh.

Marquez looked on course to set the fastest pace of the weekend in a real fast lap when he fell off his Honda.

Pedrosa, the Spanish Honda rider, came out on top after a furious finale which saw five successive pole laps set in the last two minutes — leaving the top seven riders covered by less than half a second.

Pedrosa's time of 1min 59.212sec was 17-thousandths quicker than Yamaha's Johann Zarco, with Andrea Dovizioso of Ducati another seven-thousandths behind to complete the front row.

Pedrosa at the trackside later said he was happy with his machine, adding that starting in the front was important to get a podium finish.

"We hope Sunday's race will be dry. We hope to focus on the race and hopefully we will do our best," he said. "Starting from the front is very important.”

It is Pedrosa's third pole position of the season and he is fifth in the championship standing. Pedrosa will aim for his second win of the season and first since Jerez in May.

"I made a couple of mistakes... but I am happy because it is my third pole of the season," he said. But the Spaniard admitted that the sweltering heat would be the biggest challenge on Sunday. You will have to drink a lot. The sun is heating the helmet and the bike.”

Dovizioso's hopes of stopping Marquez clinching a second straight world title were buoyed when the Honda rider, who crashed at the end of one flying lap, finished outside the top six.

Dovizioso, riding a Ducati, said he was glad to start the race from the front ahead of Marquez who sits in the third row. "I set a fast lap and it seems the bike is competitive in both wet and dry track," he said.

Dovizioso later told reporters that while he will be happy to win the second position in the world championship, he was determined to snatch the world title crown.

"We are here to win the championship. We are focussed to get the 25 points tomorrow. But we know it will be difficult," he said.

The Italian declined to reveal his strategy for the race, saying he didn't know in advance as weather conditions in Sepang was unpredictable.

"But we are happy to race. The bike has allowed me to push it. I am riding in a good way. We are ready to fight," he said.

Last year, Dovizioso won the race at Sepang on a wet track.

Meanwhile, Zarco of France on a Yamaha said he used medium tyres during the qualifying to record a strong lap time. "I am ready to fight (for a podium finish). I am quite positive. I feel good," he said.

It will be a big task for Marquez to overtake from the 3rd back row for a podium finish.

If Marquez comes first or second, regardless of the result that Dovizioso achieves in Malaysia, he will win his fourth Moto GP title.

Spain's Marquez leads Dovizioso by 33 points going into the year's penultimate race, meaning he will be crowned world champion if he finishes first or second on Sunday.