Lorenzo secures Japan MotoGP pole

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, smashing the course record of 1:45.267 set by Australian Honda rider Casey Stoner in qualifying 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.