Ducatis take a 1-2 to deny Honda, with the 2021 Championship top three off the first two rows
Spaniard Jorge Martin of Pramac Racing, who never looked threatening in the four free practice sessions, set a blistering pace in the final qualifying session under floodlights on Saturday to grab pole position for Sunday’s MotoGP Grand Prix of Qatar at the Lusail International Circuit.
Martin recorded the fastest lap time of 1min 53.011sec with about six minutes to go in the 15-minute qualifying session. He leapfrogged six-time champion, compatriot Marc Marquez of Repsol Honda, who was in top spot with a time of 1:53.2830sec till then. Marquez’s time seemed good enough to secure him second place on the starting grid, till Italian Enea Bastianini of Gresni Racing MotoGp came up with a quicker time of 1:53.158sec in the final few minutes.
Martin said repeating his performance on Sunday would be a challenge but he would try. “It’s difficult to be consistent, but we’ll do something to push for a win. The last six to seven laps will decide the race,” he said.
Defending champion Fabio Quartararo of Monster Energy Yamaha, who came through the first qualifying session, was way behind in 11th. Winner of last year’s first race in Qatar, Spaniard Maverick Vinales of Aprilia, did not make the grade for the second qualifying session and will start in 19th, from the seventh row on the grid.
Valentino Rossi may have retired from the sport last year but his Moto 2 team, Mooney VR46 Racing, made an impact as Italian Celestino Vietti snatched pole position. He clocked 1:59.082sec. Last year’s winner in Qatar, Briton’s Sam Lowes, was pushed to third after his fastest lap was timed at 1:59.2260sec. Italian Tony Arbolino of Kalex was second in 1:59.1940.
Spaniards Augusto Fernandez and the talented Pedro Accosta of Red Bull KTM Ajo, who came up with quick times in the free practice sessions, will start sixth and 10th on the grid respectively.
Spain’s Izan Guevara of GASGAS Aspar Team will lead the Moto3 bunch as he clocked the fastest time of 2:04.811sec. Ayumu Sasaki of Sterilgarda Max Racing Team and Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Jaume Masia completed the top three spots on the grid.
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