Petronas Yamaha SRT’s Fabio Quartararo took MotoGP pole in Thai GP from Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales and Honda’s Marc Marquez.

Q1:

The first part of MotoGP qualifying in Thai GP at Chang International Circuit had KTM’s Pol Espargaro heading the way at the start from LCR Honda’s Cal Crutchlow initially. But Ducati’s Danilo Petrucci went quickest with a 1m30.685s.

It was enough for the Italian to get through to Q2 as Crutchlow improved to be second. However, Espargaro came back with a 1m30.956s – despite carrying an injury – to push Crutchlow out. The British rider couldn’t improve then and had to settle with 13th.

He has teammate Takaaki Nakagmi in alongside in 14th with Pramac Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia in 15th, even though the Italian crashed out in Turn 7. Aprilia’s Andrea Iannone did well in 16th from Tech 3 KTM’s Miguel Oliveira.

Avintia Ducati’s Tito Rabat slotted in 18th from Honda’s Jorge Lorenzo as the six riders were only separated by 0.217s. Avintia’s Karel Abraham, KTM’s Mika Kallio and Tech 3 KTM’s Hafizh Syahrin rounded the 22 runners.

Q2:

The second part of Thai GP MotoGP qualifying intensified with lap records being broken by the Top 2 with Petronas Yamaha SRT’s Fabio Quartararo ahead of Honda’s Marc Marquez by just 0.011s – both dipping under the 1m29s bracket.

Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales was third but teammate Valentino Rossi crashed out in Turn 5. Petronas Yamaha SRT’s Franco Morbidelli led Pramac Ducati’s Jack Miller with Suzuki’s Joan Mir pushing the factory Ducati of Andrea Dovizioso and Petrucci in seventh and eighth.

The second run changed the order slightly after a crash for Marquez at Turn 5 with Quartararo also crashing after setting the pole lap of 1m29.719s. The Spaniard’s tumble allowed Vinales to improve to second to make it a Yamaha 1-2.

Quartararo made it his fourth pole of 2019 MotoGP season in Thai GP. With Marquez third, Morbidelli maintained fourth as Petrucci improved on his time to end up as the lead Ducati in fifth ahead of Pramac’s Miller as Dovizioso was only seventh.

Suzuki’s Mir did well in eighth with Yamaha’s Rossi returning on the second bike to be ninth with Suzuki’s Alex Rins only 10th. KTM’s Espargaro was 11th with his brother and Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro ending up 12th.

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