Extra, from a press launch issued by Dorna:
Pecco vs Martin: the contenders go toe-to-toe for pole in Malaysia
Two new lap information, a crash and a late sprint for the highest: qualifying delivers a critical teaser at Sepang
Saturday, 11 November 2023
The warmth is on and it’s a 1-2 for the highest two within the title battle at Sepang! Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Time) slammed in a late stunner on the PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia to say pole for the primary time since Barcelona, denying title rival Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) because the quantity 89 suffered a late crash and was compelled to observe from the sidelines after which accept second. Bagnaia’s 1:57.491 is now additionally the brand new all-time lap file at PETRONAS Sepang Worldwide Circuit, overwriting Martin’s personal set only a few seconds earlier than, and his earlier 2022 finest.
Third makes for an attention-grabbing participant on the grids this weekend too: Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Staff) made it a Ducati front-row lockout after he climbed his means by way of Q1 to bag his first front-row begin of the season.
Q1
As ever, it went to the wire in Q1. The final couple of minutes noticed a flurry of laps, and it was Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) who got here out on high, simply pipping Bastianini by 0.088.
The drama got here late too, with a crash for Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Staff) when he was overtaking Augusto Fernandez (GASGAS Manufacturing unit Racing Tech3). Rider completely okay, however shedding out and left behind in Q1 together with the likes of Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing).
Q2
After the primary runs, it was Martin on high and with a freshly pressed new lap file, set behind key rival Bagnaia besides. The Martinator was 0.238 away from Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Staff), with Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), quickest on Friday, locking out the provisional entrance row as Bagnaia sat in fourth.
There have been simply over 4 minutes left on the clock as the sector headed again out. In Bastianini’s case it was out for the primary time in Q2, having come by way of Q1 and with one set of tyres within the locker for a time assault. The ‘Beast’ clocked a beast of a lap too, capturing up into provisional second on the grid simply 0.108 off Martin.
A crash for Diggia within the ultimate sector, rider okay, then regarded prefer it may complicate life because the Yellow Flags had been out, after which the identical occurred after a low drama lowside for Marini at Flip 9. However Bastianini was unaffected by each, and moved to inside 0.041 of the highest as the remaining began their ultimate assaults on Q2..
The decisive crash of the session was the subsequent one, nonetheless. Martin was trying to higher his personal lap that had him on provisional pole however the quantity 89 overcooked it and slid out, rider okay however that final likelihood to push now gone. The ball was in Bagnaia’s court docket, and he supposed to play it.
The number one was shut within the first a part of the lap, however he actually turned the screw within the ultimate two sectors. Each pink, Pecco shot throughout the road to seize pole as Martin was compelled to observe on the sidelines. And with that, it’s a 1-2 for the highest two within the Championship – and Bastianini third proper alongside, creating fairly a entrance row as 37 extra factors go into play.
THE GRID
Behind Bagnaia, Martin and Bastianini, Alex Marquez simply missed out on the highest three by a whisker however will line up on the entrance of Row 2 in P4 with the Mooney VR46 Racing Staff duo of Marini and Marco Bezzecchi becoming a member of him in fifth and sixth.
Brad Binder (Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing unit Racing) traces up in P7 because the South African was the primary rider simply lacking out on breaking the 1:58 barrier. Binder will likely be joined on the third row by 2021 Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Vitality Yamaha MotoGP™) and Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) because the pair bagged P8 and P9 in Q2 respectively.
The fourth row of the grid will function Jack Miller (Purple Bull KTM Manufacturing unit Racing) who rounded out the highest 10 forward of Di Giannantonio, who failed to duplicate his 1:57.8 from Q1 after that crash in Q2. The Italian has to accept P11 on the grid, with Australian GP winner Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) finishing the highest 12 and a key sufferer of Yellow Flags, leaving the Frenchman an unrepresentative 4+ seconds off the highest with no flying lap counting.
The motion has solely simply begun on the PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia and the warmth has already been turned proper up within the title battle…
