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Motorcycling-Yamaha's Quartararo takes pole ahead of Vinales at French Grand Prix

French Grand Prix

LE MANS (Reuters) - Fabio Quartararo took his third straight pole position of the season at his home French Grand Prix ahead of his Yamaha team mate Maverick Vinales in a damp and windy qualifying session at Le Mans on Saturday.

Six-times MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez nearly clinched pole in what was initially a front row lockout for the Hondas before the two Yamahas went faster in the dying seconds of the session, while Ducati's Jack Miller will start third on the grid.

Petronas Yamaha's Franco Morbidelli, who was the first rider out on soft slick tyres on a drying track for Q2, starts fourth, ahead of Johann Zarco (Pramac Ducati) and Marquez.

Defending champion Joan Mir of Suzuki and world championship leader Francesco Bagnaia of Ducati both failed to set a time fast enough to advance to the second qualifying session and will start 14th and 16th respectively.

(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Hugh Lawson)