Masterly Marquez storms to Argentina pole

Termas de Río Hondo: Reigning world champion Marc Marquez clinched his third pole position of the season and 12th of his career when he qualified fastest for Sunday`s Argentina MotoGP, the first in the South American country for 15 years.

The Spaniard, who has won both races so far this season in Doha and Austin, was 0.742sec quicker on his Honda than 2010 and 2012 world champion Jorge Lorenzo on a Yamaha. Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa was third in qualifying to complete the front row. "I didn`t think I would go so quickly today," said Marquez, who has also been fastest in the three practice sessions. "On Sunday, we will have to see what the temperature is like and the state of the tyres will be very important as it is a very long race," said 21-year-old Marquez. Aleix Espargaro, on a Yamaha, Ducati`s Andrea Dovizioso and nine-time champion Valentino Rossi, on the second factory Yamaha, fill the second row for Sunday`s race. Bradley Smith, on a Yamaha, leads the third row, ahead of Andrea Iannone on a Ducati and Germany`s Stefan Bradl on a Honda.  Bradl survived a big highside but still looked shaken by the crash at the end of the session. Alvaro Bautista, Pol Espargaro and Nicky Hayden will start from the fourth row. Australia`s Jack Miller claimed pole position for the Moto3 race as he sets his sights on a third successive win this season. Miller, on a KTM, continued his blistering form ahead of Sunday`s third round clocking the fastest lap in qualifying with 1min 49.200sec. Spain`s Efren Vazquez and Danny Kent of Great Britain were second and third fastest respectively at the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit. It was Miller`s second career pole to add to his maiden pole position achieved at the Grand Prix of the Americas two weeks ago. Miller leads the Moto3 championship with 50 points ahead of Vazquez, on 32, and Italy`s Romano Fenati, who has 24. Spain`s Esteve Rabat will start from pole position in the Moto2 race on his Kalex ahead of French Suter rider Johann Zarco with just a fraction of a second separating the two men. Belgium`s Xavier Simeon, on a Suter, completes the front row.