( CNN ) -- Reigning world champion Marc Marquez may not be 100 % fit for the MotoGP 2014 season opener in Qatar but that does n't seem to matter . A broken fibula in his right leg sustained while dirt-bike riding last month did n't appear to slow the 21-year-old Spaniard down at all in Saturday 's qualifying session as he stormed to pole for Sunday 's race . He left it late though , waiting until the last lap to put in the fastest qualifying time of one minute , 54.507 seconds , edging out compatriot Alvaro Bautista . Britain 's Bradley Smith , who was riding a Yamaha Tech3 , finished third . Ducati 's Andrea Dovizioso finished fourth while 2012 world champion Jorge Lorenzo was fifth fastest on his Yamaha . Honda 's Dani Pedrosa will start Sunday 's race from sixth . Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi starts on the fourth row . `` I 'm very happy , after the injury and the loss of half the pre-season , '' Marquez said . `` It 's very important to be here on the front row . But the pole position makes me happy . `` Tomorrow is the most important ; it will be very hard as there are many riders on the same pace , '' he added . `` Physical condition will also be difficult for me , as I do n't have full power in my leg so I have to use more arms and this is quite hard over long a distance . '' Marquez prevailed over compatriot Lorenzo in last year 's championship , clinching the title at the final race of the season in Valencia . A total of six wins and podium finishes in every race he completed in 2013 saw Marquez crowned the youngest MotoGP world champion ever -- and all in his rookie year . Read more : Drama and intrigue : Curtain rises on MotoGP season .
Youngest-ever MotoGP world champion continues 2013 form with pole in first race of 2014 . Spaniard Marquez recovering from a broken leg sustained last month . Spain 's Alvaro Bautista starts Sunday 's race in second ; Britain 's Bradley Smith starts third .