Sepang MotoGP qualifying
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Well, what a qualifying that was. Sunday's race is set up nicely to be an absolute barnstormer.
Make sure you join us again then for more MotoGP action. But for now, it's a very warm goodbye.
Make sure you join us again then for more MotoGP action. But for now, it's a very warm goodbye.
Autosport
Quartararo snatches pole, Marquez has violent crash 
Luckily for Marquez and Honda, the works Ducatis are not a million miles away from them. That's good news for Honda's hopes of winning the teams' title this year, which they trail Ducati in by a point.
Marquez's 11th is the first time he's qualified off the first two rows since the 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix, and it's his outright worst Saturday result since 2015.
Replay shows Quartararo's celebration. The visor came off because he was shaking his head so much. Can't imagine what will fall off if he actually wins on Sunday!
Take a bow Johann Zarco. He was ninth in that session and only eight tenths from pole. His last qualifying with KTM ended up with him eighth.
An all-Yamaha lockout of the front row. The M1 is getting there. Sepang has always been a good track for the bike, but this is just a continuation of what we've seen this year, especially in the second part of the season.
Really big upturn in speed from Morbidelli in recent races. He's found his feet over a single lap and is reaping the benefits of that.
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Marquez did look really knocked about by that. Mercifully, he looks to have escaped any serious injury.
"Karma". That's what SRT team boss Wilco Zeelenberg called Marquez's crash for trying to get into Quartararo's head in that session.
Quartararo on pole, Vinales second and Morbidelli third. Miller, Crutchlow, Rossi, Rins, Petrucci, Zarco, Dovizioso, Marquez and Bagnaia complete the top 12.
Marquez, after his crash, will start 11th. How significant is today going to be as we look ahead to next year and the impending Marquez/Quartararo battle?
He's so happy he's punched his own visor off!
Quartararo crosses the line with a 1m58.303s. It is pole for Quartararo at SRT's home race!
Quartararo is finding more time here. This is going to be a monster lap.
Quartararo is knocking on the door of a 1m57s here.
Quartararo on a good lap, Miller on a good lap. Vinales is celebrating, but it's not over!
Checkered flag
Vinales goes top! It's a 1m56.406s.
Stopwatch
Morbidelli takes over pole with a record lap of 1m58.432s.
The significance of this is the fact that one of Marquez's mind games backfired big time on him. Quartararo asked the question and Marquez got caught out.
Marquez is up on his feet and looks relatively unscathed.
Cruising behind Quartararo, Marquez just lost all tyre temperature. That was a nasty crash.
Crash
Huge crash for Marquez at Turn 2.
Quartararo picks up the pace. Marquez has found Petrucci at Turn 1.
Marquez is just not letting Quartararo out of his sight.
SRT tried to get the jump on Honda, but Honda was wise to it. Quartararo easing right off. Big train of riders behind him now with four minutes to go.
Quartararo has bolted out of pitlane. Marquez is following him.
Marquez and Crutchlow have not let Quartararo get out of their sights. Interesting to see how the SRT rookie will play this in the second run.
Stopwatch
Vinales takes top spot! What a lap. He's fastest, on the medium tyre, with a 1m58.676s.
But that lasted about 10 seconds as Morbidelli goes second. SRT 1-2 at its home race so far.
Crutchlow used the tow from Quartararo and Marquez to go up to second.
Stopwatch
Quartararo goes top with a 1m58.763s.
Rossi has had some good pace this weekend. But Quartararo is pushing on. Marquez is behind him but cannot cling to him.
Fast laps coming in from everyone just about. This is going to be a tight session.
Stopwatch
Rossi top! It's a 1m59.313s from the Yamaha rider.
Stopwatch
Big shake from Quartararo into the last corner. Gets it to the apex through and goes top with a 1m59.365s.
Quartararo passes Marquez and the Honda rider decides to up the pace.
Marquez runs wide on this lap at Turn 9. Not sure if that was a genuine mistake or a ploy to find a tow.
Crutchlow sits up out of that lap at Turn 1. Marquez now leads that little group.
By: Matt Beer
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