Honda's Dani Pedrosa topped an incredible qualifying shootout at the Sepang International Circuit, with the front row split by only 0.024 seconds.
Pedrosa, the pole record holder, put in a number of quick laps towards the end and stole it on his final attempt to take his eleventh front row and fourth pole at the venue.
Tech 3's Johann Zarco was second making him now only the top Independent team rider, but also the top Yamaha, ahead of the first of the title challengers: Andrea Dovizioso.
Dovizioso was only 0.024 seconds off pole and was the man provisionally set to take it until the final few seconds, but the Italian holds the cards after key rival and points leader Marc Marquez had a more difficult session and will line up seventh – on the third row.
Marquez crashed on his first flier, taking a tumble at Turn 15 but able to get the bike going and head down pitlane, and was unable to threaten once back out on track. It’s only the second time ever in the premier class the reigning champion has failed to qualify in the top six.
The second row is headed by Valentino Rossi after he was able to get the better of team-mate Maverick Viñales, with the Spaniard just 0.040 off the veteran Italian and lining up in fifth.
Ducati's Jorge Lorenzo completes an all-star second row, again within a tenth of the man ahead of him.
Behind Marquez in seventh is Alex Rins – the first of the Q2 graduates – who just beat team-mate Andrea Iannone, with Cal Crutchlow completing the top ten after a crash.
Marc VDS rider Jack Miller lines up P11, with Pol Espargaro in twelfth and once again keeping the Austrian manufacturer in Q2 as their impressive form continues.
Danilo Petrucci and teammate Scott Redding line up in thirteenth and fourteenth, with Alvaro Bautista rounded out the fastest fifteen.
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