MotoGP: Lap record set, gauntlet thrown down – the #72 heads the #93 at Misano as the duel rolls on into Saturday.
Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) is the proud owner of a shiny new lap record at Misano, taking pole in some style with the first ever 1:29 laptime of the track. His 1:29.982 puts him just under two tenths clear of key rival Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team), with Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) completing the front row – up from Q1.
Championship leader Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing), meanwhile, starts fifth.
Q1
Q1 had a few big hitters looking to make their way through after a tense top ten time attack on Friday afternoon – not least Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team). But the Italian had a tough one of it and couldn’t make a mark in the top two.
Instead, Raul Fernandez (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team) took the reins. After a stunning save in the first half of the session the Spaniard put it together to go top and go through, with Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) staking a claim on second until the final stages – ultimately deposed by Aldeguer as he joined Fernandez in Q2.
Q2
The final shootout got underway with a huge wobble for Marc Marquez on his first flyer, no time set as he exceeded track limits, and then there was a low drama crash for Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) that put him on the back foot.
On second time round, Marc Marquez took over on top – but the red sectors were really lighting up the timing screens. The laps started to come in as Diggia took over on top before an absolute showstopper from Bezzecchi – the first ever sub 90-second lap of Misano.
Back into pitlane to reload, quiet fell before the noise rose once again. The benchmark was set.
Marc Marquez was first to take aim at Bezzechi’s new lap record. He was in touch but not ahead until Turn 10, but there he bailed out of it. Next time round he was in touch again, within a tenth, but in the final sector lost two more. There was one more shot at it, but it wasn’t there.
More yellow flags then came out for another – again low drama – crash for Alex Marquez, and that was that. No one had an answer for Bezzecchi and his mid-session stunner makes it a new lap record pole on home turf.
THE GRID
As Bez sets the benchmark, Marc Marquez is forced to settle for second ahead of an impressive front row for Aldeguer up from Q1, with Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) heading Row 2. Championship leader Martin takes P5 as he looks to get back on the podium, with an impressive performance from Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) making him top Honda in sixth on his home turf.
Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) fronts Row 3 ahead of Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and two-time crasher Alex Marquez look for more from P9.
Fernandez completes the top ten, with Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) P11 and replacement rider Pol Espargaro – in the words of team manager Nico Goyon, “the world’s fastest TV presenter” – starting P12 for Red Bull KTM Tech3. Then come Quartararo and Bagnaia.
Come back for more as the Tissot Sprint goes green at 15:00 (UTC +1) – with the Bezzecchi-Marquez rematch ready to light up Misano.
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