Marc Marquez ends 3-year MotoGP pole drought, SA's Brad Binder 3rd

Six-time MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez qualified for pole position at the rain-hit Japanese Grand Prix on Saturday.

After a 90-minute delay to the schedule at Motegi, the Repsol Honda Team rider set a time of 1:55.214 in a wet Q2 session to score his first pole since the 2019 Japanese GP.

Frenchman Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) took second spot, while South Africa's Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) made the front row for the first time in the premier class.

Although there was joy for eight-time world champion Marquez, none of this year's three title contenders qualified any higher than sixth.

Championship leader @FabioQ20 has some work to do ahead of tomorrow ??The Frenchman will start the #JapaneseGP ???? from P9 pic.twitter.com/rUq6Nz3GXf

Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing), Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha) and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) failed to make the first two rows.