MUGELLO, Italy (AFP) - Spain's world champion Marc Marquez secured his sixth successive pole poition in six races this season as he timed fastest in qualifying for Sunday's Italian MotoGP at Mugello.

The 21-year-old Honda rider, who has won the opening five races thusfar this season becoming the first rider since Giacomo Agostini in 1972 to achieve that feat, recorded the 43rd pole position of his career in edging out Italian Andrea Iannone and Spain's two-time world champion Jorge Lorenzo on a Yamaha.

Earlier Iannone on his Ducati had established in the practice session a new official top speed record for the MotoGP world championship of 349.6kmh.