Italy’s Luca Marini wins record pole position in Qatar

Marini stopped the clock in 1:51.762; this was only 67 thousandths of a second faster than its compatriot Fabio di Giannantonio (Ducati Desmosedici GP22) and an absolute record in the category with six riders falling during the day.

Spanish Alex Marquez (Ducati Desmosedici GP22) finished third last and placed himself in the first division with the aim of improving his situation and entering the second division, especially after the fall he suffered during free practice.

like french Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha YZR M 1) was the fastest in the free practice sessions but the first reference was Australian Jack Miller (KTM RC 16), but it did not last long and was overtaken by Frenchman Johann Zarco (Ducati Desmosedici). Italian Franco Morbidelli (Yamaha YZR M 1), who made a ‘draw’ in free practice with Spanish Aleix Espargaró (GP23) and Spanish Aleix Espargaró (Aprilia RS-GP), ended up ‘slapping’ his helmet.

With less than three laps to go, Alex Márquez followed the lead of Quartararo, who took second place, and achieved his goal of leading the class with a time of 1:52.437; this was a new absolute fastest lap record, but behind them Johann Zarco beat them both. stopping the clock at 1:52.382.

And in another part of the track Italian Enea Bastianini (Ducati Desmosedici GP23) found himself in the way while trying to lap the Spaniard Iker Lecuona (Honda RC 213 V), whom he scolded and hurt for his carelessness on the track, and eventually retired from the race. As Zarco and Márquez acknowledged, it left him in second place.

Up to four riders lowered the previous circuit record of 1:52.772.Pecco’ Bagnaia in 2021 and this Zarco and Márquez beat Marco Bezzecchi (Ducati Desmosedici GP22) and Fabio Quartararo, one thousandth of a second apart.

The start of the second class was a ‘replica’ of previous opportunities, where Spaniard Marc Márquez (Honda RC 213 V) waited for ‘Pecco’ Bagnaia to take to the track and follow his steering wheel, thus achieving a fast flow. allowing him to get a good position in the starting lineup.

And initially it wasn’t a bad bet, as the Italian driver finished fourth on his first fastest lap and Márquez was fifth, while the Spaniards were in another area of ​​the track. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia RS-GP) and Jorge Martin those in a similar situation.

However, it was Italian Fabio di Giannantonio (Ducati Desmosedici GP22) who took the lead in the opening minutes and broke the circuit record once again with a time of 1:52.188 on his first fastest lap, followed by his compatriot Luca Marini (Ducati). Desmosedici GP22) and Jorge Martín.

Second outing on the track and history repeats itself, Marc Márquez He ‘clings’ to Bagnaia’s steering wheel as he heads onto the track from Workshop Street to attempt a new ‘time attack’.

Di Giannantonio was once again the protagonist of this second attempt, setting records at each of the references on the route and breaking the record once again. absolute circuit register They lapped with a time of 1:51.829, followed by Bagnaia and Márquez.

Martín attempted but failed to set a good fast lap in all sections, which allowed him to move into fourth, but behind him Italian Luca Marini beat ‘Diggia’s time by running 1:51.762; this was the new absolute record for the track. He left all his rivals one place behind.

Thus, Italians Luca Marini and Fabio di Giannantonio took first place, with Alex Márquez taking second place, with Bagnaia, Martín and Zarco and Marc Márquez, the first non-Ducati player of the starting lineup, taking third place. With Maverick Viñales and Raúl Fernández on Aprilia RS-GP motorcycles.

In fourth place are Aleix Espargaró, South African Brad Binder (KTM RC 16) and Augusto Fernández (Gas Gas RC 16).