Pedrosa pips Marquez for Jerez pole
Dani Pedrosa got the better of team-mate and reigning MotoGP champion Marc Marquez to claim pole position for their home Spanish Grand Prix.
Pedrosa - chasing his first victory since Misano 2016 and first Jerez win since 2013 - has been second to Marquez as the pair emerged from the pits to start their final run.
Marquez had waited for his team-mate to leave before tucking in behind him, a strategy Pedrosa was instantly aware of and made reference to - with a smile - in parc ferme.
Perhaps fired-up by the move, Pedrosa snatched pole away from Marquez by 0.051s and then instantly backed off, leaving Marquez to ride his final lap alone.
The younger Spaniard pushed to the limit and was ahead of Pedrosa for the first three sectors, but a scary rear wheel slide as he pitched in to the quick Turn 12 saw him miss out on pole by 0.049s.
Marquez, who broke his victory drought last time in Austin, had been running the hard front and soft rear tyre combination. Pedrosa, like most riders, opted for the medium front and soft rear.
LCR's Cal Crutchlow completed an all-Honda front row (+0.204s) having also been a pole candidate in the closing stages. The Englishman was forced to pull over on his slow down lap when an insect appeared to get into his leathers and start stinging him.
Double 2017 winner Maverick Vinales was the top non-RCV in fourth place (+0.428s) for Movistar Yamaha, with Andrea Iannone advancing through Qualifying 1 to claim fifth for Suzuki. Iannone spent much of the session in the wheel tracks of Ducati successor Jorge Lorenzo, who was the top Desmosedici rider in eighth (0.661s).
Between Iannone and Lorenzo were star rookie Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) and world championship leader Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha). Rossi lapped 0.659s from Pedrosa, but will perhaps be satisfied at the 0.250s difference to Vinales, given his previous pattern of race day gains.
Rossi, last year's Jerez winner, holds a six-point title lead over Vinales heading into the opening European round.
Sunday's race will be the 3000th solo motorcycle grand prix, while Yamaha will try again for its 500th victory after being thwarted by Marquez and Honda in Austin.
CLICK HERE for the full qualifying results.
Qualifying 2:
1. Dani Pedrosa
2. Marc Marquez
3. Cal Crutchlow
4. Maverick Vi?ales
5. Andrea Iannone
6. Johann Zarco
7. Valentino Rossi
8. Jorge Lorenzo
9. Jonas Folger
10. Jack Miller
11. Scott Redding
12. Aleix Espargaro
