MotoGP : Bagnaia Breaks Record, Takes Pole Position at Sepang

MotoGP : Bagnaia Breaks Record, Takes Pole Position at Sepang

© 2024, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. By Mathilde Gasnier.

Francesco Bagnaia earned pole position during MotoGP World Championship qualifying on Saturday at Sepang, in Malaysia. Riding his Lenovo Team Ducati Desmosedici GP24 , the two-time and defending World Champion broke the All-Time Lap Record of 1:57.491 he set last year with a time of 1:56.337 around the 3.44-mile (5.54 km) circuit during Qualifying Two (Q2) on Saturday. 

Jorge Martin was the best of the rest with a 1:56.553 on his Prima Pramac Racing Ducati Desmosedici, and Alex Marquez claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:57.275 on his Gresini Racing Ducati Desmosedici. 

Row-two qualifiers included Martin’s teammate, Franco Morbidelli (1:57.279), Marquez’s brother, Marc Marquez (1:57.301) and Bagnaia’s teammate Enea Bastianini (1:57.366).

 

QualifyingResults motogp sepang

 

More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

The greatest Q2 ever? Bagnaia and Martin go head-to-head at Sepang. Pecco Bagnaia will start from pole position after a thrilling Q2 battle with Martin, which saw the lap record obliterated. 

Francesco Bagnaia has stormed to an incredible pole position at the Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia, annihilating the previous lap record after clocking a 1:56.337. The Italian executed a flawless lap, setting up the remainder of the weekend by securing a 0.216s advantage over title rival Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing). The #89 smashed into the 1:56 bracket early on but was unable to respond on his second run after Bagnaia’s new benchmark was set. Bagnaia and Martin will be joined by Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) on the front row after a strong lap from the #73 placed the Spaniard P3 – 0.938s adrift.

Font row qualifiers: Martin (on the left), Bagnaia (in the middle) and A.Marquez (on the right). Photo courtesy Dorna.
Font row qualifiers: Martin (on the left), Bagnaia (in the middle) and A.Marquez (on the right). Photo courtesy Dorna.

Lap records demolished at Sepang

FP2 gave teams and riders a final opportunity to perfect their setups, with Bagnaia topping the timesheets after a busy session for the #1, completing laps on the circuit with Martin. The stage was now set for qualifying, with Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) setting an incredible pace at the start of Q1. Times began to drop as the riders returned to track for their second run, with Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) digging deep to secure the top two spots.

Once Q2 clicked into gear, Martin set the pace on the opening lap, charging into the 1:56 bracket for the first time. The #89 improved further, setting a new record and a new time for title rival Bagnaia to chase after the Italian ended his first run in P2. The reigning World Champion came out fighting on his second run, pushing to the limit and setting an unbelievable 1:56.337 as teammate Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) suffered a crash in the final minute.

Marc Marquez and Bastianini head from row two

Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) spearheads the second row of the grid, improving his time in the closing moments of Q2 to bag fourth on the grid. The Italian will start ahead of Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), who could not find further time to qualify on the front row with fresh tyres. The #93 will have Bastianini for company on the second row of the grid, with the Italian unable to improve on the time set on his first run after a crash at Turn 15.

Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) will start as the top Pierer Mobility rider, claiming seventh on the grid and continuing an incredible weekend. The #43 will be joined by Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™’s Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins on the third row, with the Yamaha duo making a further step at Sepang.

Further back, Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) will start from 13th on the grid after missing out on Q2 by 0.039s. The rookie will start in front of Bezzecchi and Raul Fernandez(Trackhouse Racing), who have work to do as the lights go out. Meanwhile, Andrea Iannone(Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) will head from 17th on the grid as he continues to make a noteworthy return to MotoGP™.

Saturday’s action does not stop yet, with further drama in store as a vital Tissot Sprint will return for lights out at 15:00 local time (UTC +8), where Bagnaia will set his sights on reducing Martin’s title advantage after qualifying on pole!

 

 

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