British Grand Prix: Marc Marquez pips Jorge Lorenzo for pole

Marc Marquez continued his recent domination of the MotoGP world championship by snatching pole position for the British Grand Prix.

His fellow Spaniard, defending champion Jorge Lorenzo, appeared to have taken top spot after smashing the Silverstone lap record aboard his factory Yamaha.

But Marquez then found even more speed in a stunning lap on his Repsol Honda to take his fifth pole of the season.

Briton Cal Crutchlow, who crashed twice in Saturday practice, took third place.

Germany's Stefan Bradl was fourth, Marquez's team-mate Dani Pedrosa fifth and multiple world champion Valentino Rossi sixth.

In his debut season, 20-year-old Marquez has won the last four races and is 26 points clear at the top of the standings.

He will be odds-on favourite to make it five out of five on Sunday after edging Lorenzo in a frenetic session.

Lorenzo, 26, took half a second off the previous lap record in his first lap of the final session, only for Marquez to immediately better it.

Lorenzo then lowered his mark again to dip under the two minutes and one second barrier, but again Marquez responded, clocking 2:00.691.

Lorenzo said: "I thought I had pole position. I am disappointed because it was one of the best laps of my career and it was not enough.

"But it is a long race on Sunday and I hope to fight for victory."

Crutchlow's front-row start looked unlikely when he crashed heavily at his home race for the third year in a row in Saturday's morning practice.

But he recovered to take third with a late, fast lap. His team-mate Bradley Smith will start the race in 10th spot, while Northern Ireland's Michael Laverty is in 19th place.

In the Moto2 class, Britain's championship leader Scott Redding - who this week signed a deal to move up to MotoGP from next season - qualified second for Sunday's race behind Takaaki Nakagami.

And in the Moto3 class, Maverick Vinales was fastest.

Silverstone qualifying times:

1. Marc Marquez (Spa) Repsol Honda 2:00.691

2. Jorge Lorenzo (Spa) Yamaha 2:00.819

3. Cal Crutchlow (GB) Tech 3 Yamaha 2:01.425

4. Stefan Bradl (Ger) LCR Honda 2:01.558

5. Dani Pedrosa (Spa) Repsol Honda 2:01.624

6. Valentino Rossi (Ita) Yamaha 2:02.109

7. Andrea Dovizioso (Ita) Ducati 2:02.123

8. Alvaro Bautista (Spa) Gresini Honda 2:02.252

9. Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati 2:02.289

10. Bradley Smith (GB) Tech 3 Yamaha 2:02.409