Jorge Martin will start the San Marino MotoGP from pole position after setting a stunning lap record pace at Misano some +0.4s quicker than his nearest rival.

The Spaniard, who comes into this race having closed the margin to injured MotoGP Championship leader Pecco Bagnaia to 50 points, was untouchable as he swept around the Rimini circuit to post 1m 30.390secs lap.

A full five tenths quicker than the existing lap record, Martin’s effort puts him at the head of a Ducati 1-2-3 at its home venue ahead of Marco Bezzecchi and Bagnaia.

A strong result for both riders in consideration of the injuries they sustained in separate lap one accidents during last weekend’s Catalunya MotoGP, they will nonetheless have their work cut out to defeat an in-form Martin.

Maverick Vinales broke the Ducati deadlock in fourth place, the Aprilia rider well placed to challenge for his first win with the Italian manufacturer, while once again Dani Pedrosa proved he hasn’t lost any of his speed in retirement after qualifying as the top KTM rider in fifth.

After having to come through Q1, Aleix Espargaro got himself up to sixth place, ahead of a row three comprising Brad Binder, Luca Marini and Marc Marquez.

The other rider to come through Q1, Miguel Oliveira gets underway from tenth, ahead of Alex Marquez and Raul Fernandez, the latter making it two RNF Aprilias inside Q2 for the first time.

Prior to Q2, Fabio Quartararo missed out on a spot in the pole-deciding session by only four hundredths en route to 13th on the grid, ahead of wild-cards Michele Pirro on the Aruba Ducati and Stefan Bradl on the Honda. 

Elsewhere, Pol Espargaro suffered two crashes in the Q1 session as he brought up the rear in 23rd.