Germany's motorcyle racer ,Stefan Bradl , has stolen the pole for the U.S. Grand Prix from MotoGP championship leader Marc Marquez after the Spaniard crashed late in qualifying on the tricky Laguna Seca circuit.
Factory Honda rider Marquez, who had dominated practice sessions at the Mazda Speedway, had been poised to take the position but slid off the track with just four minutes remaining.
The mistake opened the door for Bradl, who turned in a blistering lap of one minute 21.176 seconds on his non-works LCR Honda to bump Marquez and claim his first career MotoGP pole in his second season in the top category.
Spain's Alvaro Bautista staged a late charge to take third for Gresini Honda ahead of seven-time world champion Valentino Rossi of Italy on a Yamaha.
