Marc Marquez takes MotoGP pole at Silverstone

The 20-year-old Spanish sensation Marc Marquez (Honda) grabbed pole for today's MotoGP race with a lap in 2 minutes 0.691 seconds, just over one-tenth of a second faster than reigning champion Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha). Britain's Cal Crutchlow crashed in practice on his Tech 3 Yamaha for the third year in succession at Silverstone, but despite multiple abrasions qualified in third place and earned the final front row position.

"It was like a normal Saturday morning for me at Silverstone, with a crash at 293kph (182mph)," he joked. "It was my fault, and the team did a fantastic job to get me out in qualifying." Marquez, who appeared to be on the verge of crashing several times, said: "I have had many slides because I was pushing 100 per cent."

Scott Redding claimed a front-row start for the Moto2, qualifying fractionally behind the Japanese rider Takaaki Nakagami.