MOTOGP: Marquez takes Germany pole, Lorenzo crashes twice

Marc Marquez claimed his fourth-consecutive German Grand Prix pole position, as MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo's torrid weekend at the Sachsenring continued with two crashes.

Marquez was never really troubled on his Honda, even though his first flying lap of 1m21.797s was bettered immediately by Hector Barbera, who following him on the road. However Marquez reclaimed top spot on his next lap by 0.052 seconds with a 1m21.581s, and put the matter beyond doubt with his final lap, a 1m21.160s to finish 0.412s clear.

By contrast, Lorenzo added two more crashes to what was already proving a tough weekend in Germany and will start Sunday's race from 11th on the grid. Facing Q1 for the first time since the format was introduced in 2013, he advanced after securing second place by just 0.046s over Cal Crutchlow, despite a high-speed fall at Turn 8 in the final minute.

Lorenzo was able to rejoin for the primary session on his spare bike and was seventh after the first runs, half a second off Marquez's benchmark at the time, but he fell for the second time in an hour and third time this weekend at Turn 1.

Avintia Ducati rider Barbera secured his second front-row start in MotoGP, while Valentino Rossi flew the flag for Yamaha in third.

Danilo Petrucci set an identical laptime to Rossi on his Pramac Ducati, but had to settle for a career-best fourth as Rossi's second-fastest lap was quicker.

Pol Espargaro was fifth, ahead of practice pacesetter Maverick Vinales, who wound up 0.624s off the pace set by Marquez.

Outshone by satellite pair Barbera and Petrucci, Ducati factory riders Andrea Dovizioso and Andrea Iannone were seventh and ninth. Iannone had, like Vinales, been one of the weekend's fastest riders, but fell at Turn 1.

Dovizioso and Iannone were split by Vinales' Suzuki teammate Aleix Espargaro, while Dani Pedrosa completed the top 10, ahead of Lorenzo and Yonny Hernandez, who lost his fastest time for exceeding track limits.

Crutchlow will line up 13th, ahead of Bradley Smith and Scott Redding, with Assen winner Jack Miller qualifying 16th.

GERMAN GRAND PRIX GRID:

Originally on Autosport.com