Q1 to pole: Viñales repeats Marquez’ Thai GP feat

Have you caught your breath after that dramatic final qualifying of the year at the Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana? It’s certainly set us up for a treat on Sunday, so here’s 10 things to know ahead of the final battle of 2018:

1. After passing through Q1 for the sixth time in 2018, Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) has qualified on pole position for the sixth time in the premier class – the 17th time of his career – and the first time since Aragon last year.

2. Viñales became the second rider since the current qualifying format was introduced in 2013 to qualify on pole position after passing through Q1, along with Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) in Thailand earlier this year.

3. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) has qualified in second, which is his best qualifying result since he stepped up to the MotoGP™ class in 2017.

4. 2018 MotoGP™ runner-up, Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) completes the front row on the grid, which is his first front row start since he was on pole position in Japan.

5. After crashing in Q2, Marquez has qualified in fifth place. Since the opening race in Qatar, the Spaniard has always qualified on the first two rows on the grid.

6. Top KTM rider, Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) has qualified in sixth on the grid, equaling the best qualifying result for KTM since the Austrian joined the MotoGP™ class, from Australia last year.

7. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) has qualified in eighth, which is the best qualifying result from an Aprilia rider since Espargaro himself was seventh in Assen this year.

8. This is the first time that six current manufacturers have filled the top 8 on the grid.

9. The most successful rider at Valencia with seven Grand Prix wins including last year – his last podium finish so far –, Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) has qualified in ninth on the grid, his best qualifying result since he was the seventh-fastest qualifier in Thailand.

10. Second across the line at Valencia last year, Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3), who is leading the Independent Team rider classification, starts from 11th on the grid. This is his lowest qualifying result since was 14th in Aragon.