Sepang MotoGP: Dani Pedrosa scores dominant pole in Honda 1-2

Pedrosa set the pace in final practice and was untouchable in Q2, setting an immediate 1m59.053s lap that was six tenths of a second quicker than anyone else.

Marquez somehow avoided crashing in a wild high-speed moment on his second run, then trimmed the gap to four tenths with his final attempt.

Pedrosa couldn't improve - but that didn't stop him securing a first pole since the June 2014 Barcelona race.

Lorenzo was another who didn't find any time at the end of the session, and that left him vulnerable when Rossi jumped up from fifth with a lap that included the best sector three time of anyone.

The Italian inched his key opponent off the front row by just 0.011s, to the surprise of Lorenzo - who initially headed towards parc ferme believing he had secured a top-three place.

Lorenzo put the result down to brake problems that had developed in final practice, when he also had a minor fall at the final corner.

Practice four also had its fraught moments for Rossi - who followed up his Thursday criticism of Marquez with a gesticulation at the Honda rider when they were close on track.

Cal Crutchlow beat the Ducatis of Andrea Iannone and Andrea Dovizioso to complete the top five.

Maverick Vinales and Bradley Smith made it through from Q1 to take eighth and ninth, ahead of Hector Barbera and the Espargaro brothers.

Aleix Espargaro crashed his Suzuki late in Q2, while Jack Miller did likewise at the end of Q1, prompting a small fire on his LCR Honda.

QUALIFYING RESULTS: