WATCH: Rookie sensation Pedro Acosta claims first-ever pole in dramatic Japanese MotoGP qualifying

The 19-year-old rookie Pedro Acosta will start from pole position for the first time in his MotoGP career at the Japanese Grand Prix. Acosta's rise to the top was nothing short of dramatic, as Marc Márquez saw his record-breaking lap time scrapped due to a track limits violation, handing the rookie the coveted pole.

Qualifying began under tricky conditions, with light rain making the track even more challenging. Riders knew they had to set strong laps before the weather worsened, and Márquez took an early lead. The Gresini Ducati rider posted an impressive time, staying ahead of Franco Morbidelli by just 0.127 seconds, with Brad Binder close behind in third.

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Rookie of the Year ✅
Maiden pole in #MotoGP ✅

Can this day get any better for @37_pedroacosta? 🔥😍#JapaneseGP 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/6cwM1wDyHu

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) October 5, 2024

As the session progressed, Acosta, representing Red Bull GasGas Tech3, made his move, climbing into second place. Behind him, Jorge Martín secured third, as Marc Marquez seemed poised to stay on top. But in the ever-changing conditions at Motegi, the leaderboard continued to shift.

Acosta soon took control, with Enea Bastianini moving into second and Marco Bezzecchi grabbing third. Márquez, meanwhile, slipped to fourth as the rain continued to influence the riders' grip on the circuit.

Pecco Bagnaia continues to dominate

In a thrilling final few minutes, reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia stormed to the front, first seizing second and then moving into the lead. However, Márquez responded with a stunning lap, setting a new Motegi lap record at 1m42.868s. It seemed like a masterstroke that would secure him pole.

But drama unfolded when Márquez's lap was invalidated due to a track limits violation. With just seconds to go, Acosta's earlier effort remained the fastest, securing him his first-ever pole position in the premier class. Bagnaia finished second, 0.246 seconds behind, while Maverick Vinales completed the front row, trailing by 0.423 seconds.

Márquez, after his disqualification, will start from ninth, while Jorge Martin, after a late crash, will line up in 11th. This pole position marks a significant milestone for Acosta in his debut MotoGP season, signalling that the rookie is ready to battle with the sport's elite.

Here is the final starting line-up for the sprint –