Valentino Rossi takes pole position for the Japanese MotoGP, while practice pace setter Marc Marquez wa༒s forced to abandon a fast lap after pushing a little too hard under braking, then backing off while marshals were retrieving Cal Crutchlow's fallen bike on his last lap.

Rossi passed the accident at a similar time and did not appear to back off - but even if that lap is scrapped by Race Direction, the grid orde🌊r should remain unchanged since the Italian's pole time was set the lap before Crutchlow fell.

Marc Marquez was favorite for Pole but pushed♛ a little too hard in the braking zone Q2 -- ltxcn.top MotoG🅰P (@crash_motogp)

Jorge Lorenzo completes the front row after a brave performance following this morning's massive highside, which required a visit to hospital for scans and X-rays.

Alvaro Bautista, having led Qualifyin༺g ಞ1, fell on his out-lap in Qualifying 2.

Dani Pedr🦩osa fractured his right collarbone in a huge Friday practice highside and is replaced for the remainder of the weekend by HRC test rider Hiroshi Aᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚoyama.

Meanw𒅌hile Eugene Laverty was given the green light to return to action this afternoon, after his big accident in FP2.

Andrea Iannone is missing his third race in a row following a back injury at Misano. His factory seat has been taken by Heﷺctor Barbera, with 2015 Australian SBK champion Mike Jones drafted in fo✱r a MotoGP debut at Avintia.

Bradley Smith and Jack Miller are returning from injury this weekend, while Yamaha test rider Katsuyuki Nakasuga is making his latest wiꦗld-card appearance.

Marquez has a slim mathematical chan༺ce of wrapping up the 2016 title on Sunday, should he raise his points lead from 52 to 76...

Qualifying 2:1.Valentino RossiITAMovistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1)1m 43.954s[Lap 7/8]305km/h (Top Speed)2.Marc MarquezESPRepsol Honda Team (RC213V)1m 44.134s +0.180s[3/8]308km/h3.Jorge LorenzoESPMovistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1)1m 44.221s +0.267s[7/7]303km/h4.Andrea DoviziosoITADucati Team (Desmosedici GP)1m 44.294s +0.340s[6/8]308km/h5.Cal CrutchlowGBRLCR Honda (RC213V)1m 44.402s +0.448s[7/7]306km/h6.Aleix EspargaroESPTeam Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)1m 44.494s +0.540s[8/8]304km/h7.Maverick Vi?alesESPTeam Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)1m 44.539s +0.585s[8/8]307km/h8.Hector BarberaESPDucati Team (Desmosedici GP)1m 44.980s +1.026s[7/7]310km/h9.Pol EspargaroESPMonster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)1m 45.232s +1.278s[8/8]304km/h10.Danilo PetrucciITAOcto Pramac Yakhnich (Desmosedici GP15)1m 45.782s +1.828s[3/7]304km/h11.Scott ReddingGBROcto Pramac Yakhnich (Desmosedici GP15)1m 45.827s +1.873s[5/6]306km/h12.Alvaro BautistaESPFactory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)No Time[0/0]

Qualifying 1:13.Stefan BradlGERFactory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)1m 45.823s301km/h14.Jack MillerAUSEstrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V)1m 46.347s301km/h15.Bradley SmithGBRMonster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)1m 46.593s303km/h16.Katsuyuki NakasugaJPNYamalube Yamaha Factory Racing (YZR-M1)1m 46.627s300km/h17.Yonny HernandezCOLAspar MotoGP Team (Desmosedici GP14.2)1m 46.705s302km/h18.Tito RabatESPEstrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V)*1m 46.753s301km/h19.Eugene LavertyIRLAspar MotoGP Team (Desmosedici GP14.2)1m 47.060s305km/h20.Loris BazFRAAvintia Racing (Desmosedici GP14.2)1m 47.501s296km/h21.Mike JonesAUSAvintia Racing (Desmosedici GP14.2)1m 47.631s302km/h22.Hiroshi AoyamaJPNRepsol Honda Team (RC213V)1m 47.788s307km/h

Blue Name = No Concessions.
7 engine changes for the season. Engines must be identical throughout season within same team (development freeze). 5 days of private testing.Black Name = Concessions.
9 engine changes. No engine development freeze. Unlimited private testing.* Rookie

Fastest practie time:Marc Marquez SPA Honda 1m 44.987s (FP3)

Official Motegi MotoGP records:Best lap: Jorge Lorenzo SPA Yamaha 1m 43.790s (2015)Fastest race lap:Jorge Lorenzo SPA Yamaha 1m 45.350s (2014)

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