SA's Binder qualifies 9th as world champion Bagnaia on pole for German MotoGP

World champion Francesco Bagnaia will start from pole position for the fourth time in seven races this season after topping the qualifying session for the German MotoGP on his Ducati.

The 26-year-old Italian will have compatriot Luca Marini (Ducati-VR46) and Australia's Jack Miller (KTM) completing the front row both for the sprint later Saturday and the race proper 24 hours later.

"It was a pretty difficult qualifying session," said Bagnaia.

"It was very easy to make an error or to have your fast lap voided due to a yellow flag."

Miller's teammate, South African Brad Binder, qualified ninth.

READ: Marquez blames 'nice guy' Zarco for German practice crash, SA's Binder 10th quickest

Spain's Marc Marquez, who has won the race on all eight occasions he has contested it, illustrated how tricky the conditions were, due to the rain earlier on Saturday, as he fell several times on his Honda.

Front row

1. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA/Ducati), 2. Luca Marini (ITA/Ducati-VR46), 3. Jack Miller (AUS/KTM)2nd row

4. Johann Zarco (FRA/Ducati-Pramac), 5. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA/Ducati-VR46), 6. Jorge Martin (ESP/Ducati-Pramac)

3rd row

7. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda), 8. Alex Marquez (ESP/Ducati-Gresini), 9. Brad Binder (RSA/KTM)

4th row

10. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Aprilia), 11. Enea Bastianini (ITA/Ducati), 12. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha)

The 30-year-old six-time world MotoGP champion will start from seventh spot on the grid - France's Fabio Quartararo, who Bagnaia dethroned as world champion last year, is a lowly 12th on his Yamaha.

Bagnaia tops the standings with 131 points, 21 clear of another Italian and Marini's teammate Marco Bezzecchi - who will start from fifth place on the second row of the grid.