The Frenchman Johann Zarco will start in the first position of the grid of the Portuguese GP after setting the best time in Q2. The Pramac Racing driver has conquered this pole after stopping the clock in a time of 1:42.003, a record that has allowed him to beat Joan Mir by almost two tenths. For its part, Aleix Espargaró has signed the third fastest time of the session in a Q2 in which Pol Espargaró’s crash has directly determined the starting position of Fabio Quartararo and his teammate Marc Márquez.
Free practice on Friday in the wet, FP3 with even more water on the track. Only one window in which the rain has stopped has allowed Miguel Oliveira, Joan Mir, Fabio Quartararo and Brad Binder to have a direct ticket to Q2. This has left a first qualifying session in which some of the great roosters of the championship have gathered. And the truth is that all of them have gone wrong. The leader Enea Bastianini will start 18th after suffering a crash, while Álex Rins will start 23rd. For its part, Pecco Bagnaia without time after a serious accident, will start last.
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While free practice was run on wet tires and Q1 on a somewhat strange mix of slicks and wet tyres, Q2 was run entirely on slick tires. However, the improved grip on the track has meant that the entire session has been a succession of fast laps by different players. A scenario in which Johann Zarco has finally prevailed by perfectly measuring the times of Q2dodge the yellow card for Pol Espargaró’s fall and mark his last lap after crossing the finish line seconds before the checkered flag.
Johann Zarco, Joan Mir and Aleix Espargaró draw an unexpected front row, but meritorious in a very complex Q2. In the second row will start Jack Miller, the champion Fabio Quartararo and the ‘rookie’ Marco Bezzechi, while Álex Márquez in his best classification of the year has scored seventh position. The LCR Honda rider will be accompanied in the third row by Luca Marini and Marc Márquez, weighed down by the yellow ‘Polyccio’ flag. All in all, the #44 has overtaken Miguel Oliveira and Brad Binder.
Out of Q2, Jorge Martín heads the fifth row of the grid, in which he will share a position with Maverick Viñales and Fabio Di Giannantonio. Behind, Enea Bastianini will have the job of climbing from 18th to the top positions if he wants to retain the lead. For now, the Italian knows that he has Álex Rins, his main pursuer, behind, since the Spaniard will start 23rd. Thus, a two-pronged race is outlined in which Pecco Bagnaia will close the grid after confirming that he does not suffer fractures after his heavy fall.
Photos: Pramac Racing