Submitted by Zara Daniela on
With the business end of the weekend quickly approaching, the margins got even smaller between the main contenders for qualifying. Fabio Quartararo and Marc Marquez seemed to have the most fun throughout practice, the Frenchman setting a new lap record in FP3 and the Spaniard showing a fierce pace in FP4 and they continued the socially distanced exchange in Q2. Quartararo was in provisional pole after the first run and Marquez took over on the second run, with Maverick Vinales throwing a spanner in the works for the final couple of minutes, but in the end it was the Petronas rider who repeated history by taking pole position in Jerez with a new lap record in his pocket.
With Vinales and Marquez completing a front row of favourites for the race, Pecco Bagnaia surprised his rivals by taking fourth on the grid, ahead of Jack Miller, whose red hot pole-chasing lap ended in a late crash at turn 11. Cal Crutchlow closes row two, while Pol Espargaro successfully escaped Q1 and put a KTM on the third row of the grid. Andrea Dovizioso got eighth spot and slid out at turn two while trying to improve that. Alex Rins followed his example at turn 11 and his qualifying position on the third row looks in doubt as the Spaniard was gingerly holding his arm while stepping into the ambulance.
Franco Morbidelli and compatriot Valentino Rossi open row five ahead of Joan Mir, whose practice heroics did not translate into qualifying. Rookie Brad Binder missed out on Q2 by a tenth of a second but starts Sunday’s race from a dignified 13th position.
Results:
| Pos. | Num. | Rider | Bike | Time | Gap 1st | Prev. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 | Fabio QUARTARARO | Yamaha | 1'36.705 | ||
| 2 | 12 | Maverick VIÑALES | Yamaha | 1'36.844 | 0.139 | 0.139 |
| 3 | 93 | Marc MARQUEZ | Honda | 1'36.862 | 0.157 | 0.018 |
| 4 | 63 | Francesco BAGNAIA | Ducati | 1'36.955 | 0.250 | 0.093 |
| 5 | 43 | Jack MILLER | Ducati | 1'37.453 | 0.748 | 0.498 |
| 6 | 35 | Cal CRUTCHLOW | Honda | 1'37.454 | 0.749 | 0.001 |
| 7 | 44 | Pol ESPARGARO | KTM | 1'37.493 | 0.788 | 0.039 |
| 8 | 4 | Andrea DOVIZIOSO | Ducati | 1'37.535 | 0.830 | 0.042 |
| 9 | 42 | Alex RINS | Suzuki | 1'37.636 | 0.931 | 0.101 |
| 10 | 21 | Franco MORBIDELLI | Yamaha | 1'37.674 | 0.969 | 0.038 |
| 11 | 46 | Valentino ROSSI | Yamaha | 1'37.741 | 1.036 | 0.067 |
| 12 | 36 | Joan MIR | Suzuki | 1'37.784 | 1.079 | 0.043 |
| Q1 Results: | ||||||
| Q2 | 42 | Alex RINS | Suzuki | 1'37.063 | ||
| Q2 | 44 | Pol ESPARGARO | KTM | 1'37.258 | 0.195 | 0.195 |
| 13 | 33 | Brad BINDER | KTM | 1'37.396 | 0.333 | 0.138 |
| 14 | 9 | Danilo PETRUCCI | Ducati | 1'37.423 | 0.360 | 0.027 |
| 15 | 30 | Takaaki NAKAGAMI | Honda | 1'37.434 | 0.371 | 0.011 |
| 16 | 41 | Aleix ESPARGARO | Aprilia | 1'37.940 | 0.877 | 0.506 |
| 17 | 88 | Miguel OLIVEIRA | KTM | 1'37.964 | 0.901 | 0.024 |
| 18 | 38 | Bradley SMITH | Aprilia | 1'37.966 | 0.903 | 0.002 |
| 19 | 53 | Tito RABAT | Ducati | 1'38.029 | 0.966 | 0.063 |
| 20 | 5 | Johann ZARCO | Ducati | 1'38.106 | 1.043 | 0.077 |
| 21 | 73 | Alex MARQUEZ | Honda | 1'38.256 | 1.193 | 0.150 |
| 22 | 27 | Iker LECUONA | KTM | 1'38.512 | 1.449 | 0.256 |
Comments
Yamaha win?
Interesting! Worth watching.
Sadness for Rins. Ahhhfook.
FabQ continuing to look SO good. Maverick's demeanor off the bike is a complete turn around from a yr ago. It is real and sustaining after his pivot with the bike coming back from doldrums. A few folks deserve praise for Q as you can see. Pramac pulled a Petronas. Many things are...odd re the pace and conditions. Some strange errant things can be seen throughout Q. The pressured last push to close Q2 brought something that may portend drama for the race.
The Honda isn't just sketchy approaching apex. That rear is sending very unwanted nudges back into the chassis. The Yamaha gets Ohlins, Honda gets Noleans. Wow, look at A.Marquez's Q.
Yamaha win anyone? I am in.
Two at this track
Fabulous Fabio takes pole at Jerez again! Quartararo grabbed his first pole position here in Andalusia last year.
I'm hoping F.Q.20 gets all the way to the finish this year. That quickshifter & gearchange will be 100% tested, for sure!
Yes Motoshrink Yamaha could do it. Pramac Ducati should be well up the front to.
Great to see Pecco & Jacko doing the business better than the factory mob! Better team dynamics perhaps? Of corse Petrux is banged up from his bingle. No doubt Dovizioso will be quick in the race. V.R.46 should do better in the race as well, we'll see.
And away we go
Finally! Well done Fabs and Frannie, great to see Jackass up there too.
Also great to see Zara back on the job : )