Enea Bastianini took his first MotoGP pole since 2022 season in Portuguese GP, edging out Maverick Vinales with Jorge Martin in third.
Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) is back on pole position for the first time since 2022, after setting a brilliant 1:37.706 on his fifth lap in qualifying. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) was 0.082 behind (spending most of the session in eighth), with a magical time set after pushing his Aprilia to the limit on the final flying lap of the session. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) rounds out the front row of the grid – as he awaits to defend his crown as the king of the Sprints. There were crashes early on in Q2 with Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) having a crash at the fast turn 15 – forcing the Spaniard to rush back to the paddock to get the spare bike.
It was an important Q1 session, however, with all 12 riders having a shot to earn their spot in Q2. However, Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) were the two riders who graduated from the session after they constantly improved throughout Q1. Once Q2 got underway, Francesco Bagnaia was straight on the pace, after shockingly only six riders managed to set a lap on their first run in the session. However, more drama would strike just minutes after M. Marquez’s crash, after Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) had a fall of his own. The South African would crash on the first flying lap, adding drama and tension early on in the session.
It was fireworks in the closing moments of the session, lap times came thick and fast with Martin setting a great lap before Bastianini responded with an explosive 1:37.706 just seconds later. Viñales (after sitting in eighth for the majority of the session) left everything until the last lap – setting a lap time which was good enough to place him on the front row.
On the second row of the grid, in fourth will be (reigning World Champion) Francesco Bagnaia who was knocked off the front row after Viñales late lap time. Jack Miller jumped to fifth position, ending qualifying as the top Red Bull KTM Factory Racing machine on the grid. Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) will join them on the second row of the grid after riding his Ducati on the limit early on in the session.
It is a talented third row of the grid with Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) in seventh in yet another impressive qualifying, with M. Marquez alongside him after recovering to eighth on the grid. Meanwhile, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) joins them and aims to repeat previous success in 2021 and 2022. Alongside this drama, Espargaro will be forced to charge from 13th, as home hero Miguel Oliveira (Trackhouse Racing) will be forced to start from 16th on the grid.
Results: https://x.com/MotoGP/status/1771503406064062778?s=20
[Note: The story is as per press release]
