MADRID, 17 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Spanish rider Jorge Martín (Ducati) took pole position for the MotoGP races at the Austrian Grand Prix, the eleventh round of the World Motorcycle Championship, ahead of Italian Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati), his main rival for the title, and fellow Spaniard Marc Márquez (Ducati), who was third, slightly further behind the two main contenders.
The San Sebastián de los Reyes rider was the fastest on the Red Bull Ring track with a great time of 1:27.748, despite competing in the Q2 session with a cut finger which, for the moment, has not limited him from being the fastest. Ahead of him was Bagnaia, one point behind in the World Championship standings, who was just over a tenth of a second behind, while Marc Márquez, on the front row for the first time since Mugello, was further back, more than half a second behind.
‘Martinator’ signed his lap for ‘pole’ with just three minutes left in the session, the first to go under the 1:28 barrier, putting pressure on a ‘Pecco’ who is now affected and will have to find the limits to beat the Madrid native in the sprint race.
The Turin native was the first to set the best time, but knew that it would not be enough and returned quickly to the track, although he was unable to beat Martín’s only attempt. It will be more difficult for Márquez, who completed that Ducati-only first row and who will try to fight with the other two, who proved to be one step ahead.
Q1 was marked by the presence of Pedro Acosta (KTM), who suffered three falls in Practice on Friday, and his poor feelings continued in this first qualifying session. The Murcia native was unable to make the cut for Q2, something that was achieved by Australian Jack Miller (KTM), who will finally start fifth, and Pol Espargaró (KTM), who showed that he still has pace and will start from tenth position.
After the Ducati front row, Aleix Espargaró (Aprilia) set the fourth fastest time, after an unsuccessful attempt to beat Márquez on the final flying lap. Meanwhile, Maverick Viñales (Aprilia) will start from sixth place, and Álex Márquez (Ducati), will start from eleventh.