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Mugello MotoGP: Andrea Iannone's first pole, Marc Marquez out in Q1

Andrea Iannone pumped in a sensational lap to beat Jorge Lorenzo to pole position in MotoGP qualifying at Mugello, as Marc Marquez failed to make Q2

The top 11 all set laps quicker than the track record, but it was Iannone who challenged practice three pacesetter Lorenzo - the only man quicker than the record before qualifying - with a time of 1m46.489s.

Andrea Dovizioso was denied second by Lorenzo late on, as Ducati had held the top two positions at its home grand prix before the Yamaha split them.

Iannone, who was diagnosed with an arm fracture earlier this week, hung on to claim his first premier-class pole.

Cal Crutchlow managed an impressive fourth, ahead of the highest of the two Q1 graduates Aleix Espargaro on a Suzuki surrendering substantial straightline speed to the leading manufacturers and while still recovering from his Le Mans injury.

The undoubted crowd favourite Valentino Rossi could only manage eighth, as he enters Mugello leading the championship standings for the first time since 2007.

Marc Marquez fared worse still - down in 13th after failing to reach the final shootout in qualifying for the first time in his MotoGP career.

The Spaniard's problems began when he set a poor time in third practice, which condemned him to joining the Q1 group.

He then fell off at San Donate in practice four just before qualifying, forcing him onto the back-up bike for Q1.

The champion thought he had set a quick enough time to advance to Q2 - only for Yonny Hernandez to put in a session-topping lap while Marquez was sat in the pits watching, demoting the Honda to third in Q1 behind the Pramac Ducati and Espargaro's Suzuki.

Marquez - last year's Mugello winner - has never qualified outside the top six in his MotoGP career, and threw his hat to the floor in disgust as he stormed out of the Honda garage.

Follow the Mugello MotoGP race day as it happens with AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live from 10am UK time on Sunday - MotoGP race starts at 1pm

STARTING GRID:

Pos Rider Team Bike Time Gap
1 Andrea Iannone Ducati Ducati 1m46.489s -
2 Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha Yamaha 1m46.584s 0.095s
3 Andrea Dovizioso Ducati Ducati 1m46.610s 0.121s
4 Cal Crutchlow LCR Honda 1m46.657s 0.168s
5 Aleix Espargaro Suzuki Suzuki 1m46.854s 0.365s
6 Michele Pirro Ducati Ducati 1m46.870s 0.381s
7 Dani Pedrosa Honda Honda 1m46.875s 0.386s
8 Valentino Rossi Yamaha Yamaha 1m46.923s 0.434s
9 Maverick Vinales Suzuki Suzuki 1m46.934s 0.445s
10 Pol Espargaro Tech 3 Yamaha 1m47.050s 0.561s
11 Bradley Smith Tech 3 Yamaha 1m47.090s 0.601s
12 Yonny Hernandez Pramac Racing Ducati 1m47.423s 0.934s
13 Marc Marquez Honda Honda 1m47.240s -
14 Danilo Petrucci Pramac Racing Ducati 1m47.497s -
15 Hector Barbera Avintia Racing Ducati 1m47.978s -
16 Stefan Bradl Forward Racing Yamaha Forward 1m48.047s -
17 Scott Redding Marc VDS Honda 1m48.120s -
18 Loris Baz Forward Racing Yamaha Forward 1m48.133s -
19 Nicky Hayden Aspar Honda 1m48.298s -
20 Karel Abraham AB Motoracing Honda 1m48.366s -
21 Alvaro Bautista Aprilia Gresini Aprilia 1m48.477s -
22 Mike Di Meglio Avintia Racing Ducati 1m48.503s -
23 Jack Miller LCR Honda 1m48.572s -
24 Eugene Laverty Aspar Honda 1m48.638s -
25 Alex de Angelis IodaRacing Project ART/Aprilia 1m49.198s -
26 Marco Melandri Aprilia Gresini Aprilia 1m51.391s -


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