BEZZECHI CLAIMS POLE IN THE TIGHTEST QUALIFYING OF THE SEASON - Motorsportsclicks

Marco Bezzecchi delivered a stunning performance in the Valencia MotoGP qualifying session, taking pole position on his Aprilia, while Francesco Bagnaia suffered a dramatic setback, failing to advance from Q1.

Q1: Bagnaia misses Q2 entry

Bagnaia struggled to find rhythm on the tight Circuit Ricardo Tormo and was unable to post a competitive lap, continuing to face difficulties despite his recent victory at Motegi. After returning to the pits, he told the team they had forgotten to refuel the bike, causing him to run out of gas, although this explanation has yet to be officially confirmed.
The top two riders to progress from Q1 were Raúl Fernández, who clocked a 1:30.215, and Johann Zarco, who managed a 1:30.278. Bagnaia’s best lap of 1:30.532 left him out of Q2, forcing the Ducati rider to start from further back on the grid.

Full Q1 results:

Q2: The battle for Pole

The fight for pole was incredibly tight, with less than a tenth of a second separating the top five. Bezzecchi set a blistering 1:28.809 on his final flying lap, narrowly edging out Álex Márquez (1:28.835) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (1:28.853). Close behind them were Raúl Fernandez (1:28.867) and Pedro Acosta (1:28.905), highlighting just how competitive the session was. Bezzecchi’s lap not only earned him his fifth pole position in the last ten races, but also demonstrated Aprilia’s late-season pace.
With Bezzecchi on pole and many competitive contenders on his tail, the stage is set for an unpredictable and exciting season finale. The Valencia GP promises to be a thrilling conclusion, with tight battles expected across the front of the grid.

Full results of Q2: