Barcelona MotoGP qualifying

16:09 Apparently there's a race on in France that's getting everyone excited, but I'll tell you this: you do not want to miss tomorrow's Catalan Grand Prix. It's sure to be an absolute barnstormer.

Until then, though, thank you kindly for your company on qualifying day.

16:08 Quartararo beats Marquez for second MotoGP pole

Barcelona MotoGP: Quartararo beats Marquez and Vinales to pole

Petronas Yamaha rookie Fabio Quartararo secured the second pole position of his first MotoGP season in Catalan Grand Prix qualifying at Barcelona

16:06

16:03 Just the second time this season Lorenzo has qualified inside the top 10. Seems those ergonomic changes to the Honda made during his trip to the factory after Mugello are beginning to move the bike in the direction he wants it.

15:57 Quartararo is yet to tally up a top six finish this year. The last time he was on pole, his race did not pan out well. But he has happy memories of Barcelona, so perhaps tomorrow could be the day he gets the big result he has threatened to produce all year.

15:55 It's been a pretty bruising couple of weeks for the SRT duo - but that only seems to have made them quicker!

15:55 What a turnaround for Yamaha after a dismal Mugello. All of them are inside the top five. Question is: can they hold onto this pace into the race?

15:53 The reason for Marquez's last lap going away from him was a massive slide at Turn 4.

15:52 Marquez holds onto second from Vinales. Morbidelli heads row two from Rossi and Dovizioso. Rins drops to eighth behind Petrucci after that crash, while Crutchlow's lap went away from him. He will start ninth, with Lorenzo, Mir and Espargaro rounding out the top 12.

15:51 Quartararo takes pole in Barcelona. It's his second of his MotoGP career, and comes just 11 days after arm-pump surgery!

15:50 Marquez made a mistake on this lap. He's lost four tenths. His pole charge is over.

15:50 Quartararo, Marquez and Crutchlow are the ones to watch now.

15:49 Marquez misses out by 0.015s in second. Vinales holds onto third, and Rins's crash is already costing him dearly. He's been dumped to seventh.

15:49 Quartararo takes over now with a massive 1m39.484s.

15:48 Vinales goes fastest with a 1m39.710s.

15:48 Rins is down at Turn 10 and he is seething.

15:47 Rins has clicked through sector one fastest of all.

15:46 The track is a hive of activity as the session nears its conclusion.

15:45 Abraham has just said to Dorna TV he struggled in Q1 "ironically" with the front tyre cooling down in these scorching conditions - exactly what led to Petrucci's crash.

15:44 Morbidelli, Quartararo, Petrucci, Rins, Marquez, Rossi, Vinales, Dovizioso, Crutchlow, Mir, Lorenzo, P.Espargaro is how the top 12 looks with just under six minutes to go.

15:44 Petrucci was not on a fast lap when he crashed. Asked too much of a front tyre which had cooled down a bit too much.

15:43 Rossi sixth following Dovizioso, who is eighth at the moment. Petrucci has been able to rejoin.

15:42 Petrucci has crashed at Turn 5. That's where Ducati stablemate Miller went down in Q1.

15:42 Morbidelli leads a Petronas SRT 1-2 with a 1m39.711s, with Quartararo briefly top there. Petrucci completes the front row provisionally.

15:41 Marquez has gone fastest with a 1m39.898s.

15:40 Rins leaps up to second on his first attempt, with Q1 pacesetter Morbidelli third currently.

15:39 Vinales goes top with a 1m40.007s.

15:37 Yamaha has informed Vinales he is being followed by Marquez, who has gone out on a medium rear tyre by the looks of it.

15:35

15:35 The fight for pole is GO!

15:32 While all has gone briefly quiet, let's rundown the list of Q2 combatants:

Quartararo, Rins, Crutchlow, Rossi, Vinales, Dovizioso, P.Espargaro, Petrucci, Marquez, Lorenzo, Morbidelli, Mir.

15:30 Mir will make his third appearance in Q2 in his rookie campaign. Morbidelli has been in every Q2 session this season.

15:29 15th for Abraham is his best qualifying result since Argentina. Good effort from the Avintia rider on the year-old Ducati.

15:27 No major improvements late on in Q1, leaving Morbidelli and Mir to secure passage into Q2.

Bagnaia will start 13th, followed by Miller, Abraham, Nakagami, Espargaro, Zarco, Rabat, Oliveira, Syahrin, Smith, Guintoli, Iannone.

15:26 Abraham was on a great lap, but ran into traffic and ran wide at Turn 10.

15:26 Miller's lap has gone away from him. His hopes of Q2 are finished.

15:25 Timing screen is ablaze with red sectors as the chequered flag comes out.

15:25 Mir goes second, Bagnaia third, Miller fourth, and Abraham fifth.

15:24 Morbidelli doesn't improve, but stays top. Lots of fast laps coming in now, though.

15:23 Bagnaia up to second, which pushes Nakagami out. Morbidelli is on another flyer.