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Jorge Martin in action at Losail Int'l Circuit Saturday. (MotoGP photo)

Rookie Jorge Martin Notches First MotoGP Pole

DOHA, Qatar – In his second career MotoGP qualifying session, premier class rookie Jorge Martin of Pramac Racing notched his first pole position Saturday at Losail Int’l Circuit.

Martin toured the 3.343-mile, 16-turn circuit in 1:53.106, edging out his Pramac Racing teammate Johann Zarco for the top honors in qualifying by .157 seconds.

Factory Yamaha rider Maverick Viñales was third-quick to complete the front row, followed by factory Ducati rider Jack Miller and the second factory Yamaha bike of Fabio Quartararo.

Francesco Bagnaia was sixth on another factory Ducati entry, followed by Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro, the Team Suzuki Ecstar pair of Alex Rins and Joan Mir, and Petronas Yamaha SRT’s Franco Morbidelli.

Stefan Bradl and Pol Espargaro will start 11th and 15th, respectively, for Repsol Honda.