Marquez dedicates pole position to tragic Salom

Barcelona (AFP) – Marc Marquez dominated MotoGP world champion and fellow Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo in qualifying Saturday for the Grand Prix of Catalonia, dedicating his pole position to the tragic Luis Salom.

The session went ahead despite the death of Moto2 rider Salom at the Montmelo circuit on Friday. 

The 24-year-old Spaniard died after he was struck by his motorbike which bounced against the outer wall after he fell at Turn 12 in second practice.

“I would like to dedicate this result to Luis Salom and also to my grandmother, who has also passed away,” said a solemn Marquez.

The Honda star goes into Sunday’s MotoGP in Barcelona 10 points behind his Yamaha rival Lorenzo, but he took the final qualifying honours for the third time this season by almost half a second from his compatriot.

Joining the pair on the front row will be Marquez’s team-mate Dani Pedrosa.

Spain had five out of the top six qualifiers with the locals’ grip on the front rows only broken by Italian veteran Valentino Rossi in fifth.

This was Marquez’s 61st career pole and 33rd in the top division. It came 48 hours after he extended his contract with Repsol Honda.

Marquez, 23, world champion in 125cc (2010) and Moto2 (2012) won the MotoGP title in his first season in 2013 and defended it the following year. 

Following Salom’s fatal crash and after talks with riders, Moto2 qualifying went ahead on a modified circuit, with the use of a Formula One chicane to reduce speeds at the fateful Turn 12.

World Moto2 champion Johann Zarco took pole for the first time this year.

“I’d like to register a beautiful win in honour of Luis,” said the French rider.

South African Brad Binder topped the times in Moto3.

Salom’s death cut short a career which had started early. His grandfather had been a competitor and owned a motorcycle shop. The rider from Palma de Mallorca first climbed onto a motorbike at the age of just two.

Salom made his world championship debut at Jerez in 2009 in the 125cc category, and finished on the podium 25 times — with nine wins in Moto3.

He was runner-up in the 2012 Moto3 world championship and third overall in 2013.

He also finished on the podium three times in 41 appearances in the Moto2 world championship, including a second place in the opening round this year in Qatar.