HOHENSTEIN-ERNSTTHAL: Ducati's Marc Marquez clinched his seventh pole position of the season at the German Grand Prix in a wet qualifying session at the Sachsenring where several riders crashed in slippery conditions today.

While most riders struggled for grip on the wet surface and in the spray, it was the two veterans Marquez and LCR Honda's Johann Zarco who mastered the conditions in a shootout for pole.

Both Maverick Vinales and Jack Miller suffered highside crashes at turn four but Marquez seemed at ease in the conditions, though even the Spaniard had a heart-stopping scare when he briefly slid before regaining control.

"I was getting warmer and warmer and then I already had a moment on turn 11 and then when I crossed the finish line on that (one minute and) 28.0 I said, 'Okay, now breathe, calm down, the target is done,' that was the front row," Marquez said.

"I thought that was done but then I saw on the screen and on the pit wall that the lap time of the second (best rider) every time was closer and closer. Then I pushed a bit, but because I felt like I was able to do it."

Zarco, who had to come through the first qualifying session, had not claimed pole since Silverstone in 2022 and he came close to denying Marquez the 101st pole of his career with a faster time early in his lap but lost time on the final sector.

It made no difference, however, as Marquez put in one final lap at the end of the session to clock one minute and 27.811 seconds to go fastest.

"Seeing the rain this morning I was thinking, 'Okay, it's a new game, I have my chance'," said Zarco, who claimed victory at a wet French Grand Prix earlier this season.