The 26-year-old Honda star — who won last Sunday’s German MotoGP — will start ahead of series leader and compatriot Jorge Lorenzo, on a Yamaha, while another Spaniard, Hector Barbera, is third on the grid on a Ducati.

It is Pedrosa’s 39th pole position of his career — the 21st in this category. Defending world champion Casey Stoner was fifth fastest.