Pecco Bagnaia blitzed his way into the MotoGP record books in Qatar this evening after securing his first ever MotoGP pole position in sensational style.

The Italian continued to shine in his new factory Ducati colours by storming to pole with a breathtaking 1’52.772 lap as the final qualifying reached its climax at the Losail Circuit, having also towed mentor Valentino Rossi across the line for fourth.

After finishing FP3 in an equally strong second place, Bagnaia secured the new all-time lap record on his penultimate effort of the evening’s qualifying shootout and claiming his maiden career pole position in the process.

It was a stellar day all round for Ducati after Pramac rider Johann Zarco achieved another historic milestone with his Desmosedici in tonight’s FP4, a new all-time MotoGP top speed record as he hit 364.2kmh (225mph) on the long Losail straight.

“If we touch 360kmh here is difficult to think about Mugello,” Bagnaia exclaimed before reflecting on his own performance. “I’m very happy,” the Italian continued “because I achieved this result that for me is the first one, and is the best way to start a new chapter of my career with a new team.

“Yesterday I was thinking that it was possible to arrive at a 1’52, because in my best lap of yesterday, I did some mistakes, and I was thinking about it. So, we can be happy about the result.

“Tomorrow is the race, and I think that we are a great group fighting for the top positions - Yamaha is very strong in sector two, sector three, and we can close the gap to them in sector four with our top speed so the balance is very close and I think that tomorrow will be a nice race and a great battle for sure.

“If we look at the forecast, the wind is like the test and with this wind is really, really difficult to ride, for the sand also. Let’s wait for the conditions tomorrow but I really hope that we can make a normal race tomorrow.

“We know that our bike suffers a little bit more with the wind but I think the only bike that don’t suffer like us is the Honda - I think Yamaha have the same problem and other bikes, so we can be very close to them.

Reflecting on the number of riders with the potential for victory on Sunday, Bagnaia joked, “I hope no, but is a possibility, because if you look at the pace, the Yamaha, Suzuki, the Ducatis, we are a lot, fighting for the same pace, for the victory.

We can just look at FP4 and we have seen that all the other guys were so strong on the pace. I did some mistakes in FP4 and I didn’t fight very well with the rear tyre, that was from yesterday, and maybe I have suffered more, the hot and cold temperature. Let’s wait for tomorrow but I think that eight or nine riders in the first part of the race can be can fighting to stay in front.

“Yamaha demonstrated that they have a good pace but I think also us. We will have to be more smart at the start and the pace will be not in the 54.2, 54.3’s, for sure, because this type of pace burn the tyres, most of all, the rear tyre, so it’s more difficult to be constant all the race.

"Maybe the pace of everybody is more close, and you can make the different just in the last five laps if you manage very well the rear tyre for sure.

“If I want to escape in the first five laps, then maybe I can, but then I will finish the race in 15th or 16th position for sure, for the tyres.

Having circulated in the closing minutes with VR46 Academy boss, Rossi, Bagnaia explained “In the first exit he was in front of me, but was not planned and when I see him behind, I push because I know that I prefer to ride alone, without anyone in front when I push at my 100 per cent because I can make my lines and I can push more.

“For sure we will speak because this strategy it worked today, maybe in the future we will do it again,” the 24-year-old joked.