Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) has stormed to pole position at the Gran Premio GoPro de Aragon – setting a sensational 1:46.766. The #93 ended the qualifying with a 0.840s advantage over the field – the largest pole margin in dry conditions since the 2011 Valencia Grand Prix where it was 1.014s.
Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) will start as his closest rival after an incredible lap placed the #31 P2 on the grid. Acosta battled through from Q1 and improved on his final lap in Q2, allowing the rookie to leap onto the front row – placing ahead of Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team). The Italian will start the Aragon GP from third on the grid and importantly ahead of his main title rival.
Bastianini misses out as Martin crashes early in Q2
It was an exhilarating Q1 session, with tricky conditions and only two spots remaining in Q2 which were decided on the riders’ final flying laps. It was a dramatic conclusion with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Acosta topping the session, pushing Ducati Lenovo Team’s Enea Bastianini to fourth – forcing the Italian to start 14th on the grid. Once Q2 got underway there was an early crash for Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), with the #89 losing the front at Turn 5 in the opening five minutes.
The early benchmark to beat came from Marc Marquez, with the #93 setting an early 1:47.478 on his first run. The #93’s time would stand until the closing minutes, where Marc Marquez improved further – becoming the first and only rider to enter the 1:46 bracket. The fight for the front row was not over yet, with Martin returning to the track, setting a strong time as Bagnaia and Acosta both improved on their final laps.
Martin recovers to fourth
Martin was unable to hold onto a spot on the front row, qualifying in fourth position in Aragon – ending the session 0.876s adrift. It was an eventful session for the #89, who will start alongside Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) in fifth position. Meanwhile, Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) will round out the second row, with the Italian having a moment after the session while completing a practice start.
Binder will head the third row of the grid, qualifying in seventh after battling through Q1 – setting a 1:48.492. The South African will have will start alongside Trackhouse Racing’s Miguel Oliveira and Raul Fernandez, who continued an impressive weekend for the American team.
Further back, it was a tough session for Aprilia Racing as Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Viñales will be forced to start in 11th and 12th on the grid. While, Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), Bastianini and Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) are forced to start from the fifth row of the grid.
