Martin smashes lap record for magnificent Misano pole

Qualifying laps don’t get any better than that. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) will start the Gran Premio Red Bull di San Marino e della Riviera di Rimini Tissot Sprint and Grand Prix race from pole position after setting a phenomenal 1:30.390 – a Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli all-time lap record. The walking-wounded Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) and reigning World Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) will start from the front row on home turf after stellar efforts in qualifying.

Aprilia rule Q1

As the first hot laps were slammed in, Miguel Oliveira (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team) led by a healthy 0.3s over Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™), with Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) 0.6s adrift in P8 – as younger brother Pol Espargaro (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) suffered an early crash.

Quartararo improved his time to a 1:31.678 to get a tenth and a half clear of third place Michele Pirro (Aruba.it Racing), but wildcard Stefan Bradl (HRC Team) then pounced to P2. Pol Espargaro’s session was then over as he went down unhurt for a second time, as Aleix Espargaro shot to P1 by 0.021s. Could Quartararo get himself back into the top two? Not quite. The barest of margins cost El Diablo – 0.038s to be precise – as Oliveira returned to P1 on his last lap. The Aprilia pair sailed into Q2.

Lap record obliterated in Q2

After a brief pause in proceedings, the fastest 12 riders fired up their machines as we got set for the San Marino GP pole position fight. After the slower banker laps were set, the rapid times started to be hit home as Bezzecchi’s 1:31.027 handed the Italian a tenth advantage over Martin, with Bagnaia’s first lap placing him a brilliant P3 – 0.152s off Bezzecchi’s time. Martin went for another time attack and it was a new all-time lap record – a 1:30.832 saw the Spaniard rise to P1, 0.195s clear of the chasers.

As the pack peeled into pitlane, Martin led Bezzecchi and Bagnaia, with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) P4 and Aleix Espargaro P5 – your leading quintet in the title race setting the pace in the opening part of Q2.

An absolute barnstormer then came for Martin on fresh rubber. A mind-blowing 1:30.390 put the #89 0.6s clear of Dani Pedrosa (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), but P2 was short-lived for the MotoGP™ Legend as Pecco climbed onto the front row again. Bezzecchi responded to return to the middle of the front row, however, the #72 was a mighty four tenths adrift.

On his final lap, Pecco was giving it all he had. A red split came through Sector 2 but time was lost in the latter half of the lap, as the Championship leader improved his time but stayed P3 – 0.039s away from Bezzecchi. In the end though, no one could get within touching distance of Martin’s absolute stunner. A first pole since the 2022 Valencia GP was clinched by the title-chasing Spaniard, and what a time to do it too. 

Your top 12 for the San Marino GP

Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) was able to set his personal best time on the final lap to climb to the front of Row 2 in P4, the Spaniard has wildcard Pedrosa – the leading KTM – and Aleix Espargaro for company behind the leading trio. Binder fronts Row 3 in P7, Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) and Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) claimed P8 and P9 respectively, with Oliveira, Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) and Raul Fernandez (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team) rounding out the top 12.

Next: the Tissot Sprint

With Bagnaia not fully fit, Martin and Bezzecchi need to capitalise on the #1’s stomping ground. A scintillating and crucial Tissot Sprint awaits at 15:00 local time (GMT+2), tune in!

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