Record breaking Lorenzo claims Le Mans pole

Jorge Lorenzo posted the fastest ever MotoGP lap at Le Mans on his way to pole position for the French Grand Prix.

The Movistar Yamaha rider became the first man to lap the Bugatti circuit in the 1:31s as the reigning world champion dominated qualifying.

Marc Marquez was beaten to pole at Le Mans for the first time in his premier class career but will start from second, while Andrea Iannone completed the front row despite a mid-session fall.

The practice form guide suggested Lorenzo was the man to beat and the Spaniard immediately laid down the fastest lap of the weekend before going quicker again.

After a minor off at Garage Vert, the defending world champion sizzled to a record breaking 1:31.975s with the chequered flag flying.

“I’m very happy with this track record and with pole position,” said Lorenzo.

“We worked very hard to improve all the small details in all the corners.

“Finally the bike was able to keep a constant pace and also ready to make very fast lap times.”

Marquez jumped to second just moments later on his Repsol Honda, having sat only fifth after the first runs thanks to a similar error to Lorenzo at Garage Vert.

That lap dislodged Iannone, who had moved into second. The Ducati rider was unable to improve thereafter due to a fall on the out lap ahead of his second run.

Iannone blamed the incident on a water pump failure which leaked onto his tyres, but nevertheless he claimed a first front row start since Australia last year.

Pol Espargaro, Andrea Dovizioso, and Bradley Smith made up the second row, while Valentino Rossi could only manage seventh and Pedrosa 11th.

Danilo Petrucci qualified 10th in his return from injury but did suffer a late fall, while Aleix Espargaro made no advance on progressing from Q1 and will start 12th.

Australia’s Jack Miller will start 18th aboard the Marc VDS Honda.

Sunday’s 28-lap race will start at 2200 AEST.

Result: MotoGP French Grand Prix Qualifying

Position	Rider	Team	Time	Gap
1	Jorge Lorenzo	Yamaha	1:31.975s
2	Marc Marquez	Honda	1:32.416s	+0.441s
3	Andrea Iannone	Ducati	1:32.469s	+0.494s
4	Pol Espargaro	Tech3 Yamaha	1:32.502s	+0.527s
5	Andrea Dovizioso	Ducati	1:32.587s	+0.612s
6	Bradley Smith	Tech3 Yamaha	1:32.820s	+0.845s
7	Valentino Rossi	Yamaha	1:32.829s	+0.854s
8	Maverick Vinales	Suzuki	1:32.933s	+0.958s
9	Cal Crutchlow	LCR Honda	1:32.963s	+0.988s
10	Danilo Petrucci	Pramac Ducati	1:33.102s	+1.127s
11	Daniel Pedrosa	Honda	1:33.109s	+1.134s
12	Aleix Espargaro	Suzuki	1:33.115s	+1.140s
13	Hector Barbera	Avintia Ducati	1:33.291s	+1.316s
14	Scott Redding	Pramac Ducati	1:33.310s	+1.335s
15	Yonny Hernandez	Aspar Ducati	1:33.360s	+1.385s
16	Eugene Laverty	Aspar Ducati	1:33.452s	+1.477s
17	Stefan Bradl	Aprilia	1:34.003s	+2.028s
18	Jack Miller	Marc VDS Honda	1:34.049s	+2.074s
19	Alvaro Bautista	Aprilia	1:34.333s	+2.358s
20	Tito Rabat	Marc VDS Honda	1:34.348s	+2.373s
21	Loris Baz	Avintia Ducati	1:34.455s	+2.480s