Indy MotoGP: Front row start for Bradley Smith

Bradley Smith claimed his seventh consecutive 125GP front row start in Indianapolis this afternoon to boost his hopes of recording only a third podium of 2010.

The Aspar Aprilia rider will start tomorrow’s 23-lap race from third place on the grid though he was once again unable to match the blistering pace of Spanish duo Marc Marquez and team-mate Nicolas Terol.

A best time of 1.49.026 was a massive 0.902s behind Marquez and he was 0.423s behind Terol in a qualifying session run in baking hot conditions.

Derbi rider Marquez was once again in domineering form to claim his seventh pole position of the season as he looks to build on a 15-point lead in the title hunt.

A best time of 1.48.124 easily secured him pole position by 0.479s over Terol, who had briefly knocked Marquez off top spot in the final four minutes.

Terol, who rekindled his world title hopes with victory at the last race in Brno, had to settle for second with a best time of 1.48.603.

German rider Sandro Cortese completed the front row. He clocked a best time of 1.49.110 to finish 0.986s behind Marquez.

Title contender Pol Espargaro had a nightmare session and will start from fifth on the grid. A best lap of 1.49.664 left him a massive 1.540s off the pace after he suffered a slow speed front-end crash with just over 30 minutes remaining.

British rider Danny Webb bounced back superbly from an early heavy crash at turn 13.

Just four minutes had elapsed when the Kent rider high-sided on only his second lap.

But he recovered to claim a creditable 11th spot on the grid with a time of 1.50.095.