Marquez ninth on Indonesia MotoGP grid as Bezzecchi sets lap record / Photo: Sonny TUMBELAKA - AFP
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Marquez ninth on Indonesia MotoGP grid as Bezzecchi sets lap record
Newly crowned world champion Marc Marquez qualified a lowly ninth on Saturday for the Indonesia MotoGP sprint and grand prix, as Marco Bezzecchi claimed pole position with a stunning lap record.
Marquez, who sealed his seventh MotoGP world championship crown at Motegi last week, was forced to come through the first qualifying session for the first time this season but could only settle for a place on the third row.
He was 0.941sec behind Bezzecchi, who took pole in a blistering time of 1 min 28.832sec in humid conditions at the Mandalika track on the resort island of Lombok.
That time smashed former world champion Jorge Martin's record with the first ever lap at Mandalika to break into one minute and 28 second territory.
"It is true that I am quite quick. I am happy with the qualifying for sure," said Aprilia's 26-year-old Italian rider.
"Now we still have to do the main part of the weekend, which are the races. So let's keep ourselves focused and try to do our best."
Fermin Aldeguer was second, 0.398sec behind, with Aprilia's Raul Fernandez 0.452sec off in third.
"We try to improve the Fridays, try to improve the qualifying, and here we took a big step. We are super happy," said Aldeguer.
Fernandez said riders could only have hoped to qualify second on Saturday because Bezzecchi was "making a step in front" of the pack.
Alex Marquez, second in the overall standings, will start from seventh despite a crash in the qualifying session.
Two-time world champion Francesco Bagnaia could only qualify far back in 16th.
Despite his low qualifying spot, Marc Marquez will be looking to extend his 541 championship points, which are already a single-season record for a MotoGP rider.
Alex Rins was fourth, followed by Pedro Acosta and Luca Marini.
Y.Nakamura--AMWN