A first ever premier class pole and an All Time Lap Record for the VR46 rider
VR46 is on top in MotoGP™ again! Rookie Marco Bezzecchi, one of Valentino Rossi’s proteges, has broken the All Time Lap Record around the Chang International Circuit to grab pole position for the OR Thailand Grand Prix. The Mooney VR46 Racing Team rider set a 1:29.671 with the chequered flag out to edge Prima Pramac Racing’s Jorge Martin by just 0.021 seconds in Q2, while Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) gave his title hopes a boost by also getting himself onto the front row. World Championship leader Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) qualified fourth, but fellow title contender Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) could not escape Q1.
The Bologna bullets fire again
Martin had been fastest through Free Practice and he went even quicker again on his first run in Q2 in setting a 1:29.893. Prima Pramac Racing teammate Johann Zarco held second on a 1:29.963 as the track went quiet and Quartararo was third on a 1:30.009. Bagnaia, however, was all the way back in ninth at 0.835 seconds off the pace.
‘Pecco’ went early for his second run and climbed to fourth on a 1:30.098 before jumping all the way into provisional pole when he laid down a 1:29.775 on the following lap. Martin’s hopes of snatching P1 back from his Ducati stablemate were nearly dashed when he lost the rear of his Desmosedici through Turn 5 but the Spaniard caught it just in the nick of time and stayed ‘sunny side up’. Next time through, ‘The Martinator’ was indeed back on top as he set a 1:29.692.
That was already a new All Time Lap Record and then the chequered flag came out, but Bezzecchi had not given up on pole. The 23-year-old stormed to a 1:29.671, although that was still not the end of matters! Martin was flying around the Buriram circuit again and went red in Sector 3, meaning he was on track to snatch pole position straight back. However, he could not go on with it, checking in at ‘just’ 1:29.782 – still a faster lap than all but Bezzecchi’s and Bagnaia’s best – and would have to settle for P2.
Quartararo versus the Ducatis – again
Once again, Quartararo is the lone ranger amid a flock of Ducatis. He dug deep to claim fourth with a final-lap 1:29.909, Zarco qualified fifth despite being unable to improve on…