Yamaha's Johann Zarco produced a sizzling lap Saturday to claim a surprise pole for the Japanese Grand Prix with MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez qualifying in third. With only a minute remaining in a wet Motegi session, the Frenchman Zarco clocked a quickest time of one minute, 53.469 seconds for his second career pole in the MotoGP class, pipping Ducati's Danilo Petrucci and championship leader Marquez.

Johann Zarco celebrates his pole position on Saturday. Pic/AFP