HOME HERO MARCO BEZZECCHI TAKES POLE AT MISANO IN MOTOGP
Marco Bezzecchi gave the Misano crowd something to cheer about by claiming pole position with a stunning late effort in a thrilling MotoGP Q2 session. The Italian produced a 1:30.134 on his penultimate attempt to edge Alex Marquez by just 0.088s, while Q1 graduate Fabio Quartararo was also within a tenth of the top spot on Saturday morning. Current Championship leader Marc Marquez will head the second row in P4, followed closely by a hungry pack of fellow Italians.
Q1: Quartararo and Aldeguer progress to Q2
Quartararo set the early benchmark in Q1 with a 1:30.842, while Fermin Aldeguer MotoGP slotted into second, just 0.010s behind the Frenchman.
Enea Bastianini, fresh off a podium in Barcelona, needed a strong lap late on, but his chances ended with a crash at Turn 15 on his out-lap with five minutes left. That left him no opportunity to respond, consigning him to a best possible grid position of P17 at his home round.
Miguel Oliveira and the Trackhouse MotoGP duo of Raul Fernandez and Ai Ogura threatened the top two in the closing stages, but Quartararo, firing in a rapid 1:30.481, and Aldeguer held firm to advance into Q2.
Q2: Pole fight decided in the closing moments
The pole battle began without Joan Mir, who sat out Saturday’s running following a practice crash.
Marc Marquez opened proceedings with a 1:30.624, but closely shadowing him was younger brother Alex Marquez. The #93 backed out of his second flyer, but the #73 pressed on to clock a 1:30.222 – the quickest lap of the weekend at that stage. Bezzecchi slotted into second, with Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) in third.
A small mistake saw Marc Marquez drop to P7 as Franco Morbidelli, Francesco Bagnaia and Fabio Di Giannantonio (completed the provisional second row.
The second runs saw early errors from Bagnaia, Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin at Turn 1, while Marc Marquez and Acosta were on rapid laps together. Acosta’s charge ended in a Turn 14 crash, though Marquez jumped to P2, just 0.130s off Alex.
Bagnaia regrouped to climb from P6 to P4, then Quartararo and Bezzecchi lit up the timing screens. Quartararo was first over the line, snatching P2 just 0.096s behind Alex Marquez, before Bezzecchi thrilled the home fans by grabbing provisional pole.
Quartararo gave it one more push but fell just short, 0.094s off Bezzecchi, sealing the front row as Bezzecchi led Alex Marquez and Quartararo when the chequered flag fell.
Bezzecchi, Alex Marquez and Quartararo, three different manufacturers, three different nationalities, and one captivating front row. Marc Marquez lurks just behind as 13 laps of Tissot Sprint action await this afternoon at 15:00 CET Time.
Share this content:
