Pecco Bagnaia scored his fifth pole position in as many races with a new lap record at the Algarve International Circuit on Saturday.

The Ducati star denied his factory teammate Jack Miller the Tissot watch with his final two laps - both of which broke the previous record set by Fabio Quartararo back in April - with Miller sitting second ahead of Sunday’s 25-lap race.

“I'm very happy because I enjoyed a lot this weekend,” Bagnaia said after qualifying. “When you feel so great with your bike everything come easily. Yesterday afternoon and today from the morning, with this type of wind, I was struggling a bit but we worked well and now I feel great also in the last sector where the wind is more strong.

“I think we are ready for the race, we tried all the tyres for the race, medium and hard, and with both we were fast so I think that our engineers now are studying which one is better and for tomorrow I'm sure that our pace will be very competitive.

“For sure I will not use the hard front, this is true,” he laughed in reference to his Misano fall, before continuing. “Last time, if I was crashing in the first or second lap, was the tyre but I crashed with four laps to go, so I'm not sure that it was the wrong choice, the front tyre. But in any case for tomorrow is more easy to choose because we have just one possibility for the front and it's not dangerous like last time,” he confirmed.

“From the rear is different, you have to do something different during the race - because with the hard you need more time to warm but then you can push more, the medium maybe to manage a bit more but last time here was more hot and the medium was doing a good job so we have to decide.”

Bagnaia’s recent run of form found him challenging for world title, with the runner’s up spot now the goal for the final two races. And while the five-in-a-row pole positions draw the eye, the 24-year-old has not been off the front row for the past nine races. So what does he put down to his late season success?

“It's from Assen that I'm in the front row, and in the last five races I'm always on pole but I think it's just from the feeling that I have with my bike,” he explained. “In qualifying you have to do like a crazy lap and you have to feel very great with everything and I have a really great feeling with the front of the bike. This gave to me a lot of confidence on braking and in the entry and I think for two laps of time attack can give to you a bit more, but I don’t know sincerely what changed,” he admitted.

Ducati does, however, have one secret weapon in its armoury this weekend, in the form of former champion and MotoGP Legend, Casey Stoner. The Australian seems to have been very hands on with the Bologna garage over the past two days and the effects are clear to see.

"Could be a nice present from Ducati to have Casey as a coach next year,” Bagnaia stated. “Is a different point of view. He's a legend and is different to have a coach because in Ducati we didn't have a coach, and for me helps a lot. Maybe next year we can have him but for me, today, a bit in the exit of last corner was useful.

“Could be nice!” The Italian replied when it was suggested Valentino Rossi could be his coach for next year upon his retirement. “After this conference I will go to his motorhome to ask him!” He joked.