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MotoGP: Bezzecchi takes first pole in Thai GP from Martin

  • Darshan Chokhani
    • MotoGP, Thai GP

    Marco Bezzecchi broke lap record en-route his first MotoGP pole in Thai GP from Jorge Martin and Francesco Bagnaia in Ducati 1-2-3.

    Q1:

    The first part in MotoGP qualifying in Thai GP at Buriram circuit saw Honda’s Marc Marquez set the pace at the halfway mark with a 1m30.343s lap with RNF Yamaha’s Cal Crutchlow slotting in second from Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro, who was outside of Q2 mark.

    KTM’s Miguel Oliveira was fourth in the order from Yamaha’s Franco Morbidelli ahead of their second and final run. It was looking good for Espargaro when he went quickest but others improved behind him just at the end moment to knock him out.

    It was Marquez making it in Q2 with a 1m30.038s lap with Oliveira pipping Espargaro by ending up in second. The MotoGP title contender had to be content with third and is to start the Thai GP from 13th ahead of Morbidelli and Crutchlow.

    Tech 3 KTM’s Raul Fernandez did a fine job to be 16th from Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales, with the other Tech 3 of Remy Gardner in 18th from Honda’s Pol Espargaro. LCR Honda’s Alex Marquez rounded the Top 20 with Gresini Ducati’s Fabio di Giannantonio in 21st.

    With Takaaki Nakagami undergoing surgery for his earlier crash, LCR’s Tetsuta Nagashima was 22nd in the standings from RNF’s Darryn Binder and Suzuki’s Danilo Petrucci, who is making his MotoGP return in place of injured Joan Mir.

    Q2:

    The second part in MotoGP qualifying in Thai GP saw Pramac Ducati pair of Jorge Martin and Johann Zarco lead the way in a 1-2 formation, with Ducati’s Jack Miller slotting in third from Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo and VR46 Ducati’s Marco Bezzecchi.

    It wasn’t the best first run for Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia who was only ninth, with KTM’s Oliveira not running initially after making it in Q2 from Q1. The second run saw Bagnaia go fastest with a 1m29.775s lap, but not for long after Martin upped his pace.

    He had a moment on one of his laps, but came back strong to retake top slot with a 1m29.692s lap. Out of nowhere, however, Bezzecchi did a 1m29.671s lap to secure MotoGP pole for the first time in his premier class in Thai GP at Buriram circuit.

    It was a new lap record from Bezzecchi as Martin had to settle for second from Bagnaia, with Quartararo doing a fine job to be fourth. Having looked good all-through the weekend, Pramac’s Zarco was fifth from Gresini’s Enea Bastianini.

    Miller was seventh after having issues with his bike since he did not return to the track for his second run. Marquez was eighth where he couldn’t improve due to a big moment on his final lap as VR6’s Luca Marini was ninth, Suzuki’s Alex Rins 10th from KTM pair of Oliveira and Brad Binder in the Top 12.