Championship leader Jorge Lorenzo will start from pole position in Sunday’s Aragon MotoGP after qualifying fastest here on Saturday.

The Spanish Yamaha driver, grabbing the 23rd pole of his career, edged out his compatriot, Honda rider Dani Pedrosa, by 88 thousandths of a second.

Briton Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha) came in third for Yamaha to complete the front row line-up.

Lorenzo waited until towards the end of the session to deprive Pedrosa, placed second in the riders’ standings, of pole.

Pedrosa had to pick himself up after parting company with his bike earlier in the day.

Occupying the second row are American Ben Spies, who had topped the free practice times, Germany’s Stefan Bradl and Italian Andrea Dovizioso.