Jorge Martin was on an absolute world of his own in MotoGP qualifying earlier today at the Sepang International Circuit. The Spanish rider was unmatched as he set blistering pace to claim pole position with an all time lap record at the track in a session where all three championship contenders crashed out of the session.
Championship leader Pecco Bagnaia was demoted into Q1 following a crash earlier in FP3. He was accompanied in the session by his teammate Jack Miller. Marc Marquez was also in the mix as he looked to salvage what he could and make it into Q2. Bagnaia set the early pace as he looked set on making an impact. Miller was quick to do the same and help his teammate fend off the others. The factory Ducatis sat 1-2 in the first few minutes of the session.
Marquez did not seem to find any pace onboard the Repsol Honda at first. But later he started to make amends. Jack Miller would have a huge highside in the final stages of the session which ruled him out of the session. But he was looking good at P2. But it was Marc Marquez who set on a lonely charge to find a superb lap that put him straight up into P2. Both Bagnaia and Marquez were into the Q2 session.
Franco Morbidelli would take two long-lap penalties going into the race on Sunday. But both Yamahas were starting in Q2.
Initially it was Bagnaia setting the pace. Luca Marini on the Mooney VR46 Ducati followed. He beat his fellow Italian to go P1 with Bagnaia in P2. But behind came a Jorge Martin on an absolute flyer to set a lap time of 1:58.021s. It was just three tenths off the all time lap record and he was six tenths ahead of his rivals.
Bastianini slotted into second place and he was around two tenths off from Martin. Nobody seemingly could match the Spaniard’s pace. Amidst all that, Marquez was constantly in the mix. He set off from the pits after a tire swap closely following Pecco Bagnaia. As both of them started their flying laps, Bagnaia would fall off into turn four ending his session on the spot.
Fabio Quartararo had a decent first sector with around a minute left, but he had a big moment going into turn eight which saw him drop the lap and eventually end his session plumb last.
Aleix Espargaro was also among those who crashed out. He lost it late on in the session which saw him no better than 10th place at the finish.
Meanwhile, Marquez put in an amazing lap onboard his Repsol Honda to go 3rd fastest and put himself on the front row in a last gasp effort. A sublime show from the eight times world champion as he went from 11th to 3rd.
Due to their respective crashes, all the title challengers start from behind as Bagnaia starts ninth, Aleix Espargaro in tenth and Fabio Quartararo in twelfth.
There is all to play for as tensions will be sky high for Sunday’s race as Ducati look to claim a rider’s championship after 15 years since Casey Stoner won it in 2007.
Image credits: Twitter
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