The Jerez Gran Prix not only will be remembered by the beautiful tributes to Ángel Nieto of last Thursday, but also will be remembered by the way Cal Crutchlow destroyed the circuit record of Jorge Lorenzo at 2015.
In the Q1 the main protagonists were the 13 last drivers of the FP4: Andrea Dovizoso, Maverick Viñales, Espargaró brothers, Mika Kallio, Bradley Smith, Thomas Luthi, Álvaro Bautista and Xavier Simeón
Thomas Luthi started with a pace of 1’38.408. A minute later, the younger of the Espargaró’s has made a 1’38. 389. The rest of the paces had been more and less tight. However, the Reale Avintia Racing rider Tito Rabat had made the difference with a 1’38.615.The Italian Andrea Dovizioso with his Ducati, did not want stay out of the Q2 and he had beaten Franco Morbidelli ,with a 1.38’402
Amoung the Q1 riders was the Yamaha Factory Racing rider Maverick Viñales that was not satisfied with the results although at the end he had finished in p2 with a 1’38.349. Andrea Dovizioso continued decreasing the pace until a 1’38.074. Both of the official riders had been lucky to enter at the second part of the session. However, Viñales almost did not make it, saved only by 40 tenth, the 40 tenth that Aleix Espargaró need it to overcome him.
Rabat was on the floor minutes left to finish the qualifying session but the Catalan had no injuries and could leave the track on top of his bike.
Dovizioso and Viñales, were qualified for the Q2 that was dominated by Ducati and Honda. Specially Crutchlow’s bike.
The current world champion, Marc Márquez, had a good pace practically all the session. The Catalan rider has made a 1’37.752 with 1’37.752 behind him. If Márquez would had done the pole, it would has been his 47th pole, the 77th of his sport career. Márquez will start at p5.
Special mention to Ducati, against all the odds the Italian brand gave everything they had, above all the #99 which finished at fourth position, but he one that has surprised everyone is Cal Crutchlow. The LCR Honda Castrol rider has smashed Jorge Lorenzo’s record a 1’37:910 with an unbelievable 1’36:653. The top10 for the race is:
1.- (35) Cal Crutchlow: 1’37.653
2.- (26) Dani Pedrosa: +0.259
3.- (5) Johann Zarco: +0.303
4.- (99) Jorge Lorenzo: +0.316
5.- (93) Marc Márquez: +0.324
6.- (42) Álex Rins: +0.331
7.- (29) Andrea Iannone: +0.334
8.- (04) Andrea Dovizioso: +0.376
9- (9) Danilo Petrucci: +0.433
10.- (46) Valentino Rossi: +0.614
