MotoGP Silverstone qualifying: Marquez times 10

Repsol Honda's Marc Marquez marched to his 10th pole position on another cool and blustery afternoon at the Silverstone Circuit in the UK, as ambient temperatures hovering around 17°C/63°F and track temperatures of 22°C/71°F meant that last year's pole position time set by Marquez was never in jeopardy. Marquez did come close however, with his second attempt in the Q2 session coming up just 0.138 seconds short, and he was the only rider to get into the 2:00 bracket. Andrea Dovisioso once again garnered another front row start (his third consecutive, and fourth of the season) with his 2:01.140 effort showing that the factory Ducati is making strides. Movistar Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo rebounded from a dismal Friday practice to surprise himself with a front row start at Silverstone.

Marquez had a minor crash during the morning FP3 session when he lost the front entering the slower Village curve, but it didn't really affect his qualifying performance. "This morning on the slowest corner of the circuit, you know always there you try to push more and more because the speed is not so high. I saw that I was too fast so I try to slow down with the front brake, I lose the front but it was only that. I know now that tomorrow in that corner I need to be same or slower (otherwise) I will crash again." Marquez also noted that the cool temperatures made trusting the front tire difficult. "Qualifying was difficult, especially because of the front tire, it was difficult to get temperature into it. I was a little bit afraid on the first lap to push. We improved over the bumps so I feel safer." And speaking of bumps, many riders were finding the Sliverstone tarmac to be bumpier than last year, including Marquez. "It’s a great circuit because for MotoGP, the size is perfect; we can use all the power of our bikes. It’s true that it’s bumpier than last year and it’s one of the most bumpiest circuits, but for everybody it’s the same bumps."

Dovisioso was happy with another front row starting position, but he knows that once again, the race itself is another matter. "Every practice we were in front with the medium tire and it will be the tire for tomorrow for more or less everybody. I think we are closer to the fastest riders for the race, we have a chance to fight a little bit especially if we don’t lose too many seconds at the start. We have to see the weather tomorrow but to start on the front row is always important to try and follow them at the beginning. We’ll see after 20 laps." As far as improvements with the Desmosedici, he cited some improvement, but that he is having to ride hard to attain that speed. "Our speed has improved in the qualifying situation and our pace in the race. But it’s more difficult to manage the (traction) drop of the tire. And we are quite fast, but because I have to use a lot of energy. When I use the energy I’m fast; it’s not the best way to ride the bike, but it’s the only way at this moment to be close to the front. We’re still working a lot on that."

Lorenzo was obviously pleased with getting a front row grid position, and he noted some improvements in the Movistar Yamaha M1 over Friday's practice debacle. But he still complained that Bridgestone's tire selection for this race wasn't the best for the Yamahas. "We didn’t expect to be on the front row because yesterday’s situation was really bad. But finally little by little working really hard with the team we were able to improve the bikes in some aspects like acceleration and absorbing the bumps a little better. Unfortunately with the medium front tire we still have some problems with the bumps; it’s better with the softer one. But it’s better than yesterday so this is a good thing. The rear tire for this track is not the best for our Yamaha; I think the lap time that I made with this hard tire, with a normal tire like last year or Brno, I could go a few tenths faster. But it’s much better than yesterday, and if we make a good start we can be there with the front group."

MotoGP Silverstone final qualifying results: