MARC Marquez will start on pole for the Malaysian Grand Prix after qualifying was suspended for 80 minutes due to torrential rain hitting the Sepang International Circuit on Saturday evening.

A number of riders, including Valentino Rossi, were out on the circuit when the rain hit but failed to even complete a lap before sitting up and waving at officials to bring on the safety car.

As the rain turned into thunder and lightning, and riders and their teams waited in their garages, officials confirmed that the weather had disrupted any chance of qualifying taking place due to dangerous conditions.
The rain did eventually ease up after the lengthy delay as abandonment threatened the session altogether, at which point the grid would have been made up from the overall FP1, 2 and 3 times.

However, proceeding did eventually get back underway with the full 15 minutes being fulfilled for each qualifying session as Marquez posted a best lap of 2:12.161 to take pole.

Johann Zarco and Valentino Rosi will complete up the front row on Sunday’s race having finished second and third respectively.

Under the threat of more weather trouble, organisers decided to move forward the Malaysian Grand Prix by two hours, meaning it will now start at 16.00 AEST.