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Quartararo Ends Ducati’s Pole Dominance at Spanish Grand Prix
In an impressive display of speed, Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo clinched pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez, breaking Ducati’s long-standing grip on qualifying starts. This achievement marks a significant moment in the season, as it is the first time since October 2022—when Pedro Acosta took pole at the Japanese Grand Prix—that a non-Ducati rider has secured this top spot.
Quartararo showcased his potential during Friday practice, expressing surprise at the performance of his Yamaha M1. The pole position offers a glimmer of hope for competitors aiming to challenge Ducati’s recent supremacy, which has dominated the series since Maverick Vinales’s standout performance at the Americas GP last April. The last non-Ducati victory came from Aleix Espargaro during the Catalan Grand Prix sprint race in May.
Championship frontrunner Marc Marquez will share the front row with Quartararo, joined by Francesco Bagnaia in third on his factory Ducati. Qualifying 2 turned out to be a straightforward dry-weather contest, free from yellow flags and interruptions. Marquez set a remarkable lap record of 1m35.643 on his first attempt, signaling serious intent and setting a high benchmark for his competitors.
Despite Marquez’s initial dominance, Quartararo managed to edge him out in the subsequent runs. Until this qualifying session, Marquez had been the unchallenged pole sitter for the season. Alex Marquez, Marc’s brother, will start fourth, narrowly missing out on the front row by just three-thousandths of a second. After his strong showing on Friday, where he recorded a lap time of his own, this result may be disappointing for him.
Franco Morbidelli of VR46 Ducati made a commendable recovery from a high-speed crash during practice, securing fifth on the grid. Vinales, who advanced from Q1, will start alongside him on the grid with his Tech3 KTM. The third row will feature rookie sensation Fermin Aldegeuer from Gresini Ducati, alongside Fabio di Giannantonio from VR46 and Joan Mir, who leads the factory Honda charge.
LCR Honda rider Johann Zarco will begin the race in tenth position, with Marco Bezzecchi on Aprilia and Pedro Acosta on KTM close behind. Earlier in Q1, several riders faced challenges during a turbulent Free Practice 2 session, including Bagnaia, Morbidelli, Acosta, and Alex Rins. Rins endured a difficult day as his primary bike was damaged, requiring a quick recovery before he could compete in Q1, ultimately placing him at the back of the grid.
Vinales showed resilience during Q1, quickly proving his earlier claims about not fully showcasing his capabilities, easily advancing into Q2. Bezzecchi posed a minor threat but fell short of surpassing Vinales’ second-fastest lap from the session.
MotoGP Spanish GP – Qualifying Results
Q2: Quartararo – 1st, Marquez – 2nd, Bagnaia – 3rd
Q1: Vinales – 1st, Bezzecchi – 2nd
Source
www.autosport.com