Marquez, Dovisioso and Lorenzo On The MotoGP Front Row

Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) secured his 10th pole position of the season at the end of the qualifying shootout at Silverstone, clocking a 2’00.829 that put him at the top grid spot. Marquez, coming off of his first and only non-podium MotoGP finish at the Czech Grand Prix, is looking to make an immediate comeback.

The Ducati Team’s hard work during post-race testing is beginning to show as Andrea Dovizioso claimed second on the grid for the third race in succession. The factory Ducati rider trailed closely behind Marquez for the majority of the weekend. Dovi made good use of the softer option qualifying tire once again in the colder English weather.

Dovizioso explained, “It was another good qualifying and another good weekend. Every practice we were towards the front with the medium tire, our race tire. I think we’re closer to the fastest rider this weekend and we have to wait for the weather. But starting from the first row is always important so we can try to fight with the top guys.

“It’s hard to be consistent in the race," he continued. "Especially with the drop off the tire. I really have to work and use a lot of energy to stay with the front. The team made a great job, but we know tomorrow will be tough. We’re in a better position though and getting closer.”

Movistar Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo on the other hand, was struggling with the cold temps but managed to get the best from the weekend’s tire allocation with a number three qualifying spot on the front row. Lorenzo has been the most successful MotoGP rider at Silverstone since Grand Prix racing returned in 2010, claiming three wins including last year’s victory over Marquez.

Teammate Valentino Rossi ended both FP3 and FP4 in fourth position, focusing on finding a strong rhythm for the race. The Italian was able to improve his lap time to a 2’01.550s in Q2, good enough for sixth. He did struggle for maximum grip, however.

Rossi is a consistent threat starting from the second row and will be looking to improve his position come the race. The Italian is yet to score a podium at Silverstone, having missed the race in 2010 after breaking his leg in Mugello.

Aleix Espargaro (NGM Forward Racing) was impressive once again on his Open Forward-Yamaha in the fourth position, qualifying ahead of factory equipped riders Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) and Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP).

Teammates Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaro (both Monster Yamaha Tech3) will line up on row three in seventh and eighth, respectively. Stefan Bradl (LCR Honda MotoGP) ended up in ninth place, having escaped unscathed after two crashes earlier in the day.

Andrea Iannone (Pramac Racing) also crashed towards the end of Q2, leaving him tenth on the starting grid. Scott Redding and Alvaro Bautista (both GO&FUN Honda Gresini) made it through from Q1 but could only qualify 11th and 12th.

Yonny Hernandez (Energy T.I. Pramac Racing) and Cal Crutchlow (Ducati Team) missed out on Q2 in third and fifth in Q1, leaving them 13th and 15th on the grid.

A crash towards the end of Q1 for Leon Camier (Drive M7 Aspar) hindered his progress, but the Briton walked away unhurt, qualifying 18th.