Italy’s Luca Marini Secures Pole in Qatar MotoGP Qualifying, Sets Lap Record
Italian rider Luca Marini clinched pole position at the Qatar Grand Prix, marking the second pole of the season and the third in his career in the MotoGP class. His best lap time stood at 1:51.762, edging out fellow Ducati rider Fabio Di Giannantonio by a razor-thin margin of 0.067 seconds, while Marini’s pole also set a new absolute track record as six riders finished the day with fast laps.
Di Giannantonio remained a constant challenger, finishing just behind Marini and securing a place among the fastest qualifiers. The day’s pace highlighted the tight competition among the top riders, with a record number of quick laps contributing to an exciting qualifying session.
Spanish rider Alex Marquez, aboard a Ducati, ended up in the third position. He faced a challenging day after an earlier incident in practice, but his late performance helped him solidify a spot in the first group and a push for a strong race result.
French contender Fabio Quartararo led the free practice pace early on with speed, while Australian Jack Miller and Frenchman Johann Zarco traded fastest times during the session. Italian Franco Morbidelli, also on a Yamaha, and Spanish riders Aleix Espargaró and Aleix Espargaró on the Aprilia tried to make their marks, with Morbidelli visibly reacting after a practice session misstep.
With under three laps to go in the session, Alex Márquez matched Quartararo’s early pace, moving into second overall and setting a fast time of 1:52.437 that briefly stood as the fastest in the session, only to be surpassed by Zarco’s late push, finishing with a lap of 1:52.382.
Meanwhile, Italian Enea Bastianini found himself in a position of tension as he navigated a fast lap while attempting to pass Spaniard Iker Lecuona. The moment proved costly, and Bastianini eventually retired from the session after a late encounter, while Zarco and Márquez confirmed their strong pace behind the leaders.
As multiple riders lowered the previous circuit record of 1:52.772, Pecco Bagnaia had set the benchmark in 2021, with Zarco and Márquez matching it closely and finishing within a whisper of the top time by just a thousandth of a second apart.
The second class began with the same strategic mindset as the first, as Marc Márquez waited for Pecco Bagnaia to lead the charge, aiming to align his own strategy for a rapid lap. The Spaniard’s plan paid off as Márquez and his peers established a strong baseline, including Aleix Espargaró and Jorge Martín, in the mix for fast laps.
Early in the session, Fabio Di Giannantonio again took the initiative, carving out the opening fastest lap and breaking the circuit record with a 1:52.188. Luca Marini followed closely, with Jorge Martín in pursuit as the tempo intensified across the field.
For the second run, Márquez again pursued Bagnaia, seeking a time attack that could challenge the leaders. Di Giannantonio emerged as the standout again, posting lap times that reset the benchmark on several segments of the track, ultimately recording an overall best of 1:51.829, with Bagnaia and Márquez close behind.
Martín tried to respond with a rear-guard effort but could not secure a top time in the closing stages, allowing Marini to reclaim momentum by blasting a 1:51.762, the new track record and the fastest time of the session. The result left Di Giannantonio as the runner-up, with Marini edging ahead by a narrow margin, and a group of rivals including Bagnaia and Martín completing the top order in a dramatic qualifying.
The final lineup saw Luca Marini and Fabio Di Giannantonio in the lead positions, with Alex Márquez in second place. Bagnaia, Martín, Zarco, and Marc Márquez were in the next slice of the grid, while Maverick Viñales and Raul Fernandez rode Aprilia machines in the mix. In fourth place stood Aleix Espargaró, followed by Brad Binder and Augusto Fernández rounding out the top ten on their respective machines, all setting the stage for an intense race day ahead. The day’s results demonstrate the depth of talent and the constant push for speed across the premier class, setting up a compelling Qatar Grand Prix race weekend.