Quartararo becomes youngest MotoGP pole-sitter

The Petronas Yamaha rider also set a circuit record of one minute 36.880 seconds as he clinched his spot at the front of the starting grid.

Quartararo's Italian team mate Franco Morbidelli, 0.082 slower, lines up alongside with Honda's world champion Marc Marquez completing the front row for his home race and Italian championship leader Andrea Dovizioso fourth for Ducati.

Marquez's team mate and compatriot Jorge Lorenzo crashed on his 32nd birthday and will start in 11th.

Italian Valentino Rossi, second in the championship, failed to make it through the first phase of qualifying and lines up 13th on Sunday.

Marquez was the previous youngest rider to start on pole, at 20 years and 63 days, in Texas in 2013.