Martin gets chance for MotoGP title reprieve with Thai pole

Jorge Martin claimed his fourth pole from the last six MotoGP rounds at the Thai Grand Prix, while title rival Pecco Bagnaia starts sixth.

Pramac Ducati rider Martin had been quickest in both Friday sessions, quickly took provisional pole with a 1m29.491s in Q2 and then improved to 1m29.287s after briefly being deposed by Marco Bezzecchi.

Bagnaia wasn't on Martin's pace even before going wide at the first corner on his last flying lap. The reigning champion starting five places further back gives Martin a good shot at reducing the 27-point deficit he now faces following his Mandalika crash and Phillip Island tye misjudgement.

Luca Marini's VR46 Ducati and Aprilia rider Aleix Espargaro - who also ran off just ahead of Bagnaia on his last lap - completed the front row, pushing Bezzecchi down to fifth.

Top KTM rider Brad Binder starts between Bezzecchi and Bagnaia.

Sixth for Bagnaia was still sufficient for him to clinch the BMW M Award - effectively MotoGP's qualifying championship with points scored on grid positions.

The Marquez brothers came through from Q1 to take seventh and eighth, Alex ahead. Marc worked very hard to make sure he got a tow from KTM's Jack Miller in the first segment despite Miller's best efforts to shake him off. Miller didn't get out of Q1 and qualified 15th.

Australian GP winner Johann Zarco starts 11th this time behind Maverick Vinales' Aprilia and Fabio Quartararo's Yamaha, and ahead of Augusto Fernandez's Tech3 Gas Gas.

Phillip Island podium star and potential 2024 Repsol Honda signing Fabio di Giannantonio couldn't get his Gresini Ducati beyond Q1 this time and is 13th on the grid.

Bagnaia's factory Ducati team-mate Enea Bastianini is having an awful Buriram weekend so far. Having struggled for pace on Friday, he had to switch to his spare bike for Q1 after a problem late in the preceding practice session, had a laptime deleted for track limits and ended up last on the grid.