A crash in the final minutes of today’s Catalunya MotoGP qualifying ended Marc Marquez’ unbeaten streak of pole positions as he lost the front at turn one, handing top spot to team-mate Dani Pedrosa.
The Spanish youngster had set pole for the opening six races of the season and looked to be course for a seventh but the mistake ended with his RC213V spinning into the gravel trap after Marquea first asked too much of the rear under brakes, which upset the balance and the front just folded.
“It was my fault, I know that I brake too late but I just tried to turn it in anyway. We will see what happens tomorrow,” said Marquez, straight after qualifying.
Pedrosa was the only rider to break the 1’41s barrier this weekend with a 1’40.985, a tenths slower than his pole time from last year, while Marquez will have to be content with third, setting a 1’41.135 on his second lap before swapping bikes.
Movistar Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo occupies the middle spot of the front row and was only pipped to the top spot by 0.115s. Stefan Bradl continued his free practice pace, heading the second row. Valentino Rossi hauled himself from tenth to fifth late on and is only three tenths off the pace.
It was disaster for Britain’s Cal Crutchlow, however, as he was the only regular Ducati rider not to make it into second qualifying. After having to ride in qualifying one, the former footballer had set a time which looked enough to go through to the main event but laps by Alvaro Bautista and stable-mate Andrea Iannone pushed him out even after spots of rain started to fall. He will start tomorrow’s race from 13th on the grid.
Aleix Espargaro was the fastest of the Open class riders in sixth place with Crutchlow’s works Ducati team-mate Andrea Iannone next to him. Bradley Smith will be disappointed with his eighth place after showing great promise in free practice while Pramac Ducati’s Yonny Hernandez finished in ninth.
Pol Espargaro, Andrea Iannone and Alvaro Bautista, who crashed early in the session, round out row four. Scott Redding joins Crutchlow on row five and it is completed by Ducati test rider Michele Pirro.
Michael Laverty finished in 21st place.
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