Rossi to take the first pole in four years, after Marquez crashes out

VALENTINO Rossi took advantage of Marc Marquez’s misfortune to claim his 50th career MotoGP pole position for Sunday’s Valencia Grand Prix.

Valentino Rossi wheelies during the Moto GP qualifying session ahead of the Valencia Grand Prix. Picture: AFP PHOTO/JOSE JORDAN.

YAMAHA rider Valentino Rossi took advantage of world champion Marc Marquez’s misfortune to claim his 50th career MotoGP pole position for Sunday’s Valencia Grand Prix.

Marquez is hoping to make history with a record 13th win of the season with victory on home soil after equalling Australian rider Mick Doohan’s mark of 12 victories in 17 races from 1997 after winning in Malaysia last time out.

Marc Marquez of Spain falls from his bike Spain's Valencia Motorcycle Grand Prix, the last race of the season, Picture: AP Photo/Alberto Saiz.

Valentino Rossi wheelies during the Moto GP qualifying session ahead of the Valencia Grand Prix. Picture: AFP PHOTO/JOSE JORDAN.

However, his hopes were dented as he crashed after registering just one lap in qualifying on Saturday to finish down in fifth on the grid.

Rossi’s time of 1min 30.843 sec denied Italian compatriot Andres Iannone his first MotoGP pole with Marquez’s Honda teammate Dani Pedrosa completing the first row of the grid.

Repsol Honda's Spanish rider Dani Pedrosa celebrates the third position after the Moto GP qualifying session of the Valencia Grand Prix. Picture: AFP PHOTO/JAIME REINA

Two-time world champion Jorge Lorenzo’s hopes of leapfrogging teammate Rossi into second in the world championship standings were also hit as he starts down in fourth.

Valentino Rossi corners during the Moto GP qualifying session ahead of the Valencia Grand Prix. Pictures: AFP PHOTO/JOSE JORDAN