- Women ride Pakistan's economic crisis into the workplace
- Wallabies 'fell of cliff' in loss to Pumas, says coach Schmidt
- Child abuse scandals hang over pope's East Timor visit
- Biden team, end in sight, keeps hope on Gaza truce despite setbacks
- Sabalenka dedicates US Open to family 'who never gave up' on dream
- Venezuela takes diplomatic jab at Brazil in spat over election
- Multiple people shot along highway in US state of Kentucky
- In Papua New Guinea, Pope holds mass 'at the edge of the world'
- Hewett stays positive for wheelchair tennis despite agonising defeat
- Three things on US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka
- Sabalenka downs Pegula to win US Open thriller
- USA slump to first home defeat against Canada in 67 years
- Argentina hand Australia record 67-27 loss in Rugby Championship
- England impress on Carsley bow, Germany, Dutch hit five
- AFP photographer wins top prize for Gaza coverage
- No Love for Packers for three weeks after ligament sprain: reports
- Pedro Almodovar: chronicler of modern Spain crowned in Venice
- Trump sounds dark tone at rally, Harris 'ready' for debate
- Wirtz and Musiala dazzle to kick-start new Germany era
- Chinese teenager takes 7th gold of Paris Paralympics
- England interim boss Carsley 'respects' divided opinions over anthem
- Neuville moves to the front in the Acropolis Rally
- Garfield, Pugh charm Toronto in new romance 'We Live in Time'
- 21 boys confirmed dead in Kenya school inferno
- Over 100,000 protest in France against new prime minister
- Golden 30 minutes takes China to swimming Paralympics swimming domination
- Green leads Australia to T20 series sweep of Scotland
- Nigeria, Cameroon win afer chaotic AFCON build-ups
- Nicole Kidman: A-lister, cinematic chameleon, wins in Venice
- 'I had to prove myself', says Kolisi after win against All Blacks
- Almodovar wins top prize at Venice film festival
- Grealish savours England redemption after 'worst summer'
- Carsley makes flying start as England interim boss in win over Ireland
- Springboks close on Rugby Championship with storming win over All Blacks
- Sri Lanka's De Silva and Kamindu Mendis defy England in third Test
- Farrell's Racing lose on opening day of Top 14
- Dunbar takes second Vuelta stage as Roglic closes in on victory
- Fritz eyes US Open glory to end 21 years of American hurt
- Thousands protest in France against new prime minister
- Trump to hold rally in swing state, Harris preps for debate
- Stone at the double as Sri Lanka collapse against England in third Test
- French tennis player takes legal action over online abuse
- Italy backs Kyiv's 'legitimate defence' as Zelensky presses allies
- The Body Shop rescued from administration after deal
- Smoke and screams: The horror of Kenya's school dorm inferno
- MotoGP leader Martin roars to victory in San Marino sprint
- Ireland and UK to 'reset' relations as Starmer begins Dublin visit
- Ma Lin turns brutal encounter with bear into glorious Paralympic career
- Flintoff appointed England Lions head coach
- Sri Lanka hit back as Pope falls during England collapse in second Test
Martin grabs Qatar pole with Marquez also on front row
Qualifying specialist Jorge Martin grabbed pole position for the MotoGP season opener in Qatar as he posted the fastest time in the final session on Saturday.
The Spaniard, on a Pramac Ducati, was joined on the front row by Italian Enea Bastianini for Gresini, which has switched to Ducati bikes this season, and six-times world champion Marc Marquez of Honda.
Martin took four pole positions last year in his rookie MotoGP season.
"I feel good always to be on pole position," he said. "But I am not 100 per cent happy because I lack a bit of race pace."
Bastianini pushed his way onto the front row for the first time at this level with a lap that finished after the qualifying time had elapsed.
Marquez, who has a reputation for picking the right wheel to follow in qualifying, made a quick exit from the pits so he could tail Ducati's Francesco Bagnaia round the track for one last tilt at a fast time.
As wind blew dust and sand across the track, the strategy worked.
"With this wind it was important to take somebody as a reference and that's what I did," he said. "We start on the front ront row. It's Saturday. It's important. But tomorrow is the race."
Marquez missed the start of last season still rehabbing a badly broken right arm and sat out the end of the campaign with double vision.
"If I'm here, I'm good," he said ahead of qualifying.
"I'm much better than last year when I was on the sofa," Marquez he told British broadcaster BT.
"I arrive at an acceptable level. We'll see at race distance," he said, adding he had not been able to do any long practice sessions in the close season.
- Marquez realistic on season goals -
Marquez seemed torn between declaring that he would challenge for another championship and managing expectations, not least his own.
"I want to fight for the title, I cannot lie," he said, but he added: "This Qatar race, I know I don't have the performance or I don't have the level or it's not the right time to win... but you never know, we'll see."
"There are 21 races. It's a long season. We'll see."
Reigning champion Fabio Quartararo will start in 11th position on Sunday, one row behind his closest rival last season Italian Bagnaia, who is in ninth place.
Quartararo only sneaked into final session after being forced into the first qualifying and finishing second fastest to grab the last place in the 12-rider shootout for pole positon.
The champion was consistently fast until the dash for the finish along first part of the 1.068km main straight coming out of the final corner.
Before qualifying, Quartararo again complained about the Yamaha's lack of top speed.
"My big request was to increase top speed. Unfortunately we couldn't do that. Let's see if we can make a small step," he said, adding that he was "happy" overall with the bike.
The Suzukis, who had dominated practice, had a disappointing qualifying.
Spaniard Joan Mir was eighth and his compatriot Alex Rins was only 10th out of 24.
In Moto2 and Moto3, the first poles of the season went to Italy's Celestino Vietti (Kalex) and Spain's Izan Guevara (GASGAS).
Like many sports bodies since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, MotoGP is displaying the words "United for peace" during its television broadcasts.
Several riders are also wearing a "Give peace a chance" sticker on their helmets.
The GP is the first of a record 21-race season climaxing in Valencia, Spain, on November 6.
C.Cassis--PC