MOTEGI, Oct 13: Yamaha’s MotoGP points leader Jorge Lorenzo took pole position for Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix after a record-breaking qualifying run.

Lorenzo clocked 1 minute 44.969 seconds at the end of the one-hour qualifying session on Saturday, smashing the course record of 1:45.267 set by Australian Honda rider Casey Stoner in qualifying here at last year.

Lorenzo’s nearest rival in the championships and fellow Spaniard Dani Pedrosa on a Honda posted the second fastest time with Britain’s Cal Crutchlow on a Yamaha third.

Pedrosa clocked 1:45.215, 0.246 seconds slower than Lorenzo, and Crutchlow notched 1:45.257.

It will be Lorenzo’s sixth pole start of the season as he bids to extend his lead over Pedrosa from 33 points with four races to go in the 18-round MotoGP season. He has won six races so far this season.

Grids: MotoGP: 1. Jorge Lorenzo (ESP/Yamaha) 1min 44.969sec, 2. Dani Pedrosa (ESP/Honda) at 0.246, 3. Cal Crutchlow (GBR/Yamaha) at 0.288, 4. Ben Spies (USA/Yamaha) at 0.367, 5. Alvaro Bautista (ESP/Honda) at 0.512, 6. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Yamaha) at 0.643, 7. Casey Stoner (AUS/Honda) at 0.776, 8. Stefan Bradl (GER/Honda) at 0.879, 9. Valentino Rossi (ITA/Ducati) at 1.007, 10. Nicky Hayden (USA/Ducati) at 1.492, 11. Katsuyuki Nakasuga (JPN/Yamaha) at 1.811, 12. Hector Barbera (ESP/Ducati) at 1.912.—AFP