It's been a weekend to remember so far as the Buddh International Circuit has made its debut on the MotoGP™ calendar. The IndianOil Grand Prix of India has thrown up a treat and we haven't reached race day yet! Find out more in 10 things you need to know ahead of Sunday in India!
1. Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) has qualified on pole for the fourth time in MotoGP™ and the first time since Silverstone earlier this year. He finished P5 in the Sprint after being forced into a comeback after contact from teammate Luca Marini at Turn 1.
2. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) finished first in the Sprint for his fourth Sprint win, equalling Francesco Bagnaia as the two riders with most Sprint wins so far. He could compete the double for the third time after already winning both the Sprint and GP race in Germany and Misano.
3. Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) has qualified third for his 11th top three in qualifying so far this year. He finished P2 in the Sprint for his 11th Sprint podium and will now be aiming to take his sixth GP win of the season, which would be one less than he took all last year.
4. This is Ducati’s ninth successive pole in MotoGP™ (since France), extending their record run. In addition, this is the 53rd successive race where there is at least one Ducati rider within the top three in qualifying.
5. Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) didn’t finish the Sprint after crashing at Turn 1 and making contact with teammate Bezzecchi, and was subsequently passed unfit due to a left collarbone fracture.
6. In Q2 for the first time since he joined Honda this year, Joan Mir (Repsol Honda Team) has qualified fifth for his best qualifying result since he qualified second in Portugal last year (with Suzuki). He crashed out from P4 in the Sprint but will now be aiming to stand on the podium for the first time since the 2021 Algarve GP, when he was P2. He will now start the GP race in P4 at the head of the second row.
7. Marc Marquez has qualified sixth for his best qualifying result since he qualified second at the Italian GP earlier this year. He will start P5. He finished third in the Sprint for his second Sprint podium of the season following Portugal. If he wins the GP race, it would be his first win since Emilia-Romagna 2021, 700 days ago.
8. With Mir and Marquez, this is the first time there are two Hondas within the top six in qualifying since Qatar 2022.
9. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) has qualified eighth for his fourth top nine in qualifying so far this year and his best qualifying since he was fourth in Assen this season. He’ll also start from P7 on Sunday. He finished P6 in the Sprint and will now be aiming to stand on the podium for the second time this year along with Americas when he finished P3.#
10. After passing through Q1 and in Q2 for the second successive time, Raul Fernandez (Cryptodata RNF MotoGP™ Team) has qualified 11th for his best qualifying result since he stepped up to MotoGP™ last year. He’ll start 10th. He finished ninth in the Sprint to score his first point on Saturday and will now be aiming to score his best result in the class if he can beat his P8, taken last time out in Misano.
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