MotoGP Race Lap Record: Jorge Lorenzo, 1:38.735, 2015
MotoGP All Time Lap Record: Cal Crutchlow, 1:37.653, 2018
2019 FIM MotoGP World Championship
Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto
Jerez de la Frontera, Spain
May 4, 2019
Qualifying Results (all on Michelin tires):
From Qualifying Two:
1. Fabio Quartararo, France (Yamaha), 1:36.880 (New Lap Record)
2. Franco Morbidelli, Italy (Yamaha), 1:36.962
3. Marc Marquez, Spain (Honda), 1:36.970
4. Andrea Dovizioso, Italy (Ducati), 1:37.018
5. Maverick Vinales, Spain (Yamaha), 1:37.114
6. Cal Crutchlow, UK (Honda), 1:37.175
7. Danilo Petrucci, Italy (Ducati), 1:37.209
8. Takaaki Nakagami, Japan (Honda), 1:37.332
9. Alex Rins, Spain (Suzuki), 1:37.351
10. Francesco Bagnaia, Italy (Ducati), 1:37.384
11. Jorge Lorenzo, Spain (Honda), 1:37.496
12. Joan Mir, Spain (Suzuki), 1:37.514
From Qualifying One:
13. Valentino Rossi, Italy (Yamaha), 1:37.371
14. Stefan Bradl, Germany (Honda), 1:37.406
15. Jack Miller, Australia (Ducati), 1:37.605
16. Aleix Espargaro, Spain (Aprilia), 1:37.625
17. Pol Espargaro, Spain (KTM), 1:37.798
18. Johann Zarco, France (KTM), 1:37.820
19. Bradley Smith, UK (Aprilia), 1:38.357
20. Tito Rabat, Spain (Ducati), 1:38.403
21. Karel Abraham, Czech Republic (Ducati), 1:38.447
22. Miguel Oliveira, Portugal (KTM), 1:38.894
23. Hafizh Syahrin, Malaysia (KTM), 1:40.042
24. Andrea Iannone, Italy (Aprilia), no lap time recorded
More, from a press release issued by Aprilia Gresini Racing:
SIXTH ROW FOR ALEIX ESPARGARÓ IN THE JEREZ QUALIFIERS
ANDREA IANNONE VICTIM OF A BAD CRASH
BRADLEY SMITH ON THE SEVENTH ROW
A tenth of a second kept Aleix Espargaró from gaining direct access in FP3 to the second qualifying session today, a tiny gap that bears witness once again to how competitive the MotoGP starting grid is on the Jerez de la Frontera circuit. The Spanish rider then went through Q1 boldly, finishing with a time of 1’37.625 that earns him the first spot on the sixth row.
His garage mate, Andrea Iannone, had a bad crash on turn 11 in the early stages of FP4. Although X-rays showed that there were no fractures, the rider was declared unfit to race due to severe pain to his left foot. The situation will be assessed and updated with a check-up tomorrow morning.
Bradley Smith will start from the seventh row tomorrow, doing his best time ever on the Jerez track while continuing his usual development work on the Aprilia RS-GP again today.
ALEIX ESPARGARO’
“This morning, we worked hard with the goal of going through to Q2, missing it by just one tenth of a second, after which I gave it my all in Q1 as well, but finishing in the top 12 just wasn’t in the cards. We cannot be satisfied with our starting position, but in compensation, during FP4 we found some good solutions for the race, both in terms of setup and in terms of tyres. Tomorrow I will try to start well and maintain a good pace all the way to the finish with the goal of getting into the top ten. We expect higher temperatures tomorrow, so I will probably put on the harder compound tyres which I feel better with.”
BRADLEY SMITH
“Yesterday evening we did everything we could to relieve the pain and it was good to get back on the back feeling almost none. Having said that, we did not want to take too many risks today. In any case, my time in qualifying is the best I’ve ever done here at Jerez, so I am pleased even if I would have liked to have gotten below 1’38”, and we had the potential to do it. In the warm up session tomorrow we’ll try to use a mix of two different configurations we tested today in order to keep improving for the race, where we’ll be able to battle for points.”
More, from a press release issued by Repsol Honda:
Marquez secures third on the grid as Lorenzo falls
Objectives met for Marc Marquez as he prepares to attack the Gran Premio Red Bull de España from the front row, teammate Jorge Lorenzo crashes unharmed.
Both Jorge Lorenzo and Marc Marquez were able to advance through directly to Q2 after an incredibly close Free Practice 3 session. Cooler morning conditions, the track temperature at just 21ºC, saw a mere half a second split the top 12. The Repsol Honda Team pairing were then able to shift their attentions to the race during Free Practice 4.
Times were even tighter in Q2, only 0.090s splitting the three riders on the front row. On lap record pace, Marc Marquez was able to secure third place on the grid with a 1’36.970 – seventh tenths faster than Crutchlow’s pole time from last year. Marquez and his team are pleased with progress made over the weekend.
Jorge Lorenzo’s Q2 session was cut short by a crash at Turn 2 with just over three minutes remaining. While Lorenzo was unharmed, he will have to fight through the field from 11thon the grid. It was a disappointing end to the day which had shown promise.
Now the 25-lap MotoGP race at 14:00 local time on Sunday, May 05, awaits both Repsol Honda Team riders as they prepare to put on a show for their home fans.
Marc Marquez
3RD 1’36.970
“I’m very happy for the front row, normally here we struggle a bit more to put one fast lap together. The most important part is that we have prepared well for the race and tomorrow we can understand our level compared to everyone else’s. We have to wait a little bit to see what the temperature does tomorrow. Congratulations to Fabio Quartararo who took the record of youngest pole setter from me, he did a really good job today. Tomorrow it will be a good race with a mix of names at the front.”
Jorge Lorenzo
11TH 1’37.496
“The session was going quite well, I pushed quite a lot in the first run and then in the second run I tried to be more aggressive in braking. Unfortunately I closed the front and then crashed, luckily I am not hurt. Starting in the fourth row isn’t ideal but it is where we will start. The launch from the line will be important to keep our position, as everyone is very fast. Here we are closer than ever to the front.”
More, from a press release issued by Mission Winnow Ducati:
Spanish GP: second row for Andrea Dovizioso, 4th in qualifying practice at Jerez. Danilo Petrucci in 7th position
The Mission Winnow Ducati team took it back to the track today at Jerez (Spain), home of the fourth round of the 2019 MotoGP World Championship, for the second day of practice ahead of tomorrow’s race. With milder temperatures compared with yesterday – about 20 degrees in the air and 30 degrees on the tarmac – Andrea Dovizioso and Danilo Petrucci gained direct access to the second and decisive qualifying session during FP3 in the morning and continued to work on race pace with positive feedback in FP4, then finally focused on a single, flying lap with a soft rear tyre.
In a Q2 characterized by extremely narrow gaps – with the first 10 riders separated by only half a second – Dovizioso seized second row with the fourth best time in 1:37.018. Petrucci, on the other hand, encountered some more difficulties during his second and final attempt and posted the seventh-best time with a 1:37.209 after becoming the first rider to break the 1:37 wall at Jerez during FP3.
Andrea Dovizioso (#04 Mission Winnow Ducati) – 4th (1:37.018)
“I’m happy because we’ve been working really well up to this point, improving in each session. My feeling with the bike is good and even during qualifying, which is not usually my strongest suit, I managed to post a competitive time despite not doing a perfect lap. We’re ready to put up a challenge during the race tomorrow, even though Márquez still represents a question mark and weather conditions, in terms of temperatures, can play a significant role. For sure my confidence is higher than last year here. We started off on the right foot and we’ve always been among the frontrunners, but we know that the race will be a different story. Tomorrow we’ll have to stay focused to finalize the good work done up to this point.”
Danilo Petrucci (#9 Mission Winnow Ducati) – 7th (1:37.209)
“I’m satisfied with the feeling on the bike, even though starting from P7 will make our job a bit harder tomorrow. Unfortunately, during my fastest lap I felt a sudden vibration on the rear and almost crashed, so I wasn’t able to improve my lap time. Then, as I wasn’t sure whether the session was over or not, I tried to go for another flying lap but I crashed at turn 1, luckily without any issues. That said, it’ll be a long race and I’m confident we’ll be able to ride at the front. My team has been doing a great job and our pace is competitive, so I’m optimistic about our chances to score a strong result.”
The Mission Winnow Ducati team will resume action tomorrow at 09:40 for a warm-up session ahead of the race, which is scheduled to start at 14:00 local time (CET).
More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing Corporation (HRC):
Stefan Bradl to start Spanish GP 14th
HRC Test Rider Stefan Bradl’s strong form continued in Jerez as the German set a 1’37.406 to secure 14thon the grid. Throughout the weekend, Bradl and his team have remained in the mix and consistently fighting for the top ten while still completing their tasks.
The MotoGP race begins at 14:00 local time tomorrow, Sunday May 05.
Stefan Bradl 6
Rider – MotoGP
“We had another good day today. The position is not as high as Friday, but we can be pleased with how we have improved. For the race tomorrow I think we can keep fighting forward and hopefully we will be able to pick up some good points. Overall, a productive day.”
More, from a press release issued by Monster Energy Yamaha:
MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA MOTOGP TO START SPANISH GP FROM 5TH AND 13TH PLACE
Jerez de la Frontera (Spain), 4th May 2019
GRAND PRIX OF SPAIN
QUALIFYING
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Maverick Viñales and Valentino Rossi came out fighting in today’s Q1. Viñales scored first place and went on to take 5th on the grid in Q2. Rossi narrowly missed out on getting through to Q2 and will start tomorrow’s race from P13.
14:35 LOCAL TIME GMT+2AIR 20°C / TRACK 30°CHUMIDITY 71%CLOUDY
5th MAVERICK VIÑALES 1’37.114 / 8 LAPS
13th VALENTINO ROSSI 1’37.371 / 7 LAPS
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP‘s Maverick Viñales and Valentino Rossi had to push to the fullest on a tough second day at the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto. After a difficult FP3 session, both Viñales and Rossi found themselves on the entry list for Q1. Viñales showed good speed in the first 15-minute shoot-out, securing first place, and went on to take fifth place in Q2. Rossi missed out on promoting to Q2 by just 0.072s and will start tomorrow‘s race from 13th place.
Viñales was quick to leave pit lane for Q1 to get a hot lap in. After an encouraging FP4 session, where he set the second fastest time, he was still in the rhythm and clocked a 1‘37.378s benchmark time that put him in provisional first position. He then immediately headed back to the pits.
With over eight minutes left, he was back out, but now in second place, as team-mate Rossi had taken over at the top. Having seen how close the times were whilst he was in pit lane, Viñales was pushing extra hard. The result was a 1‘37.316s to reclaim first by 0.055s, but he wasn‘t done yet. He next lap, a 1‘37.164s, put him 0.135s clear of the rest of the riders and earned him a spot in Q2.
After the relatively easy pass through, the Spanish rider adopted a different strategy in Q2. He waited in the box for a while, to ensure himself of some clear space out on track. However, as he had only one soft rear tyre left, his first stint was done on the medium spec tyres, and he wasn‘t able to challenge for pole.
He made a quick stop to have his last soft rear tyre fitted and made sure he had a little more than five minutes left to put it to good use. His first attempt very briefly put him in third place, but shortly after he was pushed down to fifth. He improved his time on his next attempt, to a 1‘37.114s, 0.234s from first. That result kept him in fifth place on the grid for tomorrow‘s race, in the middle of the second row.
Rossi also had his game face on in Q1. His second flying lap saw him take over at the top of the standings from Viñales, with a 1‘37.371s. On a similar strategy as his team-mate, he headed back to pit lane immediately after.
With around five minutes to go the Doctor was back out, but he didn‘t have the same feeling as he had in the first stint. Though he set two personal best sectors, he was unable to better his times on his next two laps due to traffic and was surpassed in his second position by a late charging rider in the final stages of the session. Rossi ended just 0.072s from a place in Q2 and will start tomorrow‘s race from the 13th position on the grid, on the fifth row.
MASSIMO MEREGALLI
TEAM DIRECTOR
“We tried some solutions in the morning practice session but found that not all of them worked, so we had to extend our work into FP4. As we made the progress necessary to get Maverick and Vale ready for Q1, we expected to finish a bit higher than this. Maverick did well in Q1 – he was setting the pace – but it came at a price, because it meant he only had one soft rear tyre left for Q2. Yet, he still managed to produce an even faster lap in Q2 to take fifth. Since coming through Q1 is never easy, starting from the middle of the second row is a decent result. Unfortunately, Vale missed out on getting through to Q2 by just 0.072s. It’s a shame, because his pace was good enough to be inside the top-10. It will be a tough beginning to the race for him tomorrow, starting from the fifth row, but we know what he is capable of during a race. We are preparing a different setting tweak for tomorrow’s warm-up. The tyre choice has been decided for the race, so now we just have to improve the turning of our bike a bit. Finally, I would like to congratulate Petronas Yamaha SRT on taking first and second on tomorrow‘s grid.”
MAVERICK VIÑALES
“I‘m satisfied for sure, because FP3 was very difficult for me. I didn‘t find a good feeling and I wasn‘t riding in a good way, so we changed a lot on the bike in FP4 and then I felt really good and had a good race pace, which is the most important. I‘m a bit disappointed with myself about the qualifying, because I chose a bad strategy. I tried to follow Jorge but forgot that Morbidelli and Quartararo were right behind me. I want to say ‘Congratulations’ to Fabio because taking pole is not easy in MotoGP. Franco also did a great job, so they take first and second. P5 for me is really good, considering FP3 this morning. Tomorrow we‘ll start from the second row. It will be very important to have a good start, because we have the rhythm and I‘m braking really late, so I think for me overtaking here will be easier than at the other tracks. Let‘s see if tomorrow I can be as competitive as I was in today‘s FP4.”
VALENTINO ROSSI
“First of all, congratulations to Quartararo and Franco for taking a 1-2 today. Yesterday I was in big trouble. I was very slow, but today we improved a lot. This morning, in FP3, I was quite strong. I was always P5, P6, P7, and I had a good feeling with the bike, but I was a bit unlucky. I just missed Q2 by a really small margin. After that, in Q1 on my second run I hit some traffic, so I wasn‘t able to improve. For sure, starting from 13th place is very difficult, because from the fifth row it‘s very tricky, but at the same time my pace is not so bad, I‘ve improved. It‘s true that there are a lot of fast riders, but we‘re also not so bad. We have to try to work this night, like we did yesterday for today, to make another step, and after that we‘ll see what happens tomorrow in the race.”
More, from a press release issued by LCR Honda Idemitsu:
THIRD ROW FOR NAKAGAMI IN JEREZ
LCR Honda IDEMITSU rider Takaaki Nakagami claimed eighth spot on the grid for Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix after another hard fought MotoGP qualifying session in Jerez. The Japanese star looks well placed for another positive result having secured top-10 finishes in each of the three opening rounds of the season.
Nakagami – who went quickest at the Circuito de Jerez Angel Nieto in the winter tests last November – ensured he progressed straight through to Q2 as he posted the seventh quickest lap in FP3. After then going sixth fastest in FP4, Taka had to settle for eighth in qualifying although he was only three tenths behind world champion Marc Marquez, who took the final spot on the front row.
Takaaki Nakagami – 8th
(1’37.332 – lap 6 of 8)
“I’m not 100% happy, the lap time is quite good, in FP3 we improved quite a lot with the soft tyre, but everybody was so close and the gap was so small that I was really happy to get through first time to Q2. Every time before we tried we didn’t get straight through to Q2. The feeling on the bike here is better than at the other tracks and also I like this track and have confidence here. In qualifying we targeted the second row, but at the end we got P8. But I was expecting a bit better than this so I have mixed feelings. Qualifying is qualifying though, it will be a very long race and we have to make sure we manage both the tyres well.”
More, from a press release issued by LCR Honda Castrol:
CRUTCHLOW TO START FROM THE SECOND ROW IN SPAIN
LCR Honda CASTROL rider Cal Crutchlow produced a battling display in qualifying to secure a place on the second row of the grid for the Spanish Grand Prix. Despite a high speed crash in FP3, the Briton was always amongst the pacesetters once again as he ultimately took sixth position in Saturday’s Q2 qualifying.
Crutchlow had looked poised to post the quickest time in FP3 before a heavy fall which saw the red flags come out. But he had already done enough to guarantee progress to Q2 as he finished the session in eighth spot. He responded superbly in FP4 to post the third fastest time and then fought hard in qualifying to give himself a good chance of challenging at the front in Sunday’s race.
Cal Crutchlow – 6th
(1’37.175 – lap 8 of 9)
“We ran out of time this morning and we’ve not improved the settings of the bike as much as we would have liked since yesterday, so hopefully we can tomorrow. Overall today went not too bad, although obviously we’re disappointed with the crash in FP3. But we took some positives in FP4 and we were able to make the second row of the grid. We would have preferred to be a bit further forward, but I did my best today and we’ll have to look at the settings of the bike tonight and work as hard as possible to get it right for the race. The team and Honda have done a fantastic job this weekend and now we look forward to good Sunday in front of a good crowd here in Jerez.”
More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki ECSTAR:
RINS AND MIR NINTH AND TWELFTH ON GRID IN HECTIC JEREZ
Alex Rins: 9th – 1:37.351
Joan Mir: 12th – 1:37.514
• Alex Rins ready to fight from third row start.
•Joan Mir showing strong pace ahead of Round 4.
•Incredibly close lap times with a fierce fight expected.
The Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto saw electrifying action in the morning’s FP3 session as the riders fought it out for a final chance to secure a place in Q2. The Top 14 riders were covered by just half a second as the chequered flag came out, but Joan Mir and Alex Rins worked hard throughout FP3, finishing an excellent 5th and 6th respectively.
The Team SUZUKI ECSTAR pair continued their good work into the afternoon’s FP4, trying a variety of tyres and putting in laps with a race set-up.
Alex and Joan made a strong start to the 15-minute session, but later found themselves slightly shuffled down the order. Alex Rins lost out in the 3rd sector but felt quick and confident over the first two sectors. He finished just 0.471 seconds from the pole, in 9th place. Joan Mir, meanwhile, was 0.634 seconds off and will start one row behind his team-mate, in 12th.
Davide Brivio – Team Manager
“Today’s FP3 and FP4 were really good and both riders showed their strong pace, going straight to Q2 was really positive. Then in qualifying we couldn’t really use our full potential, and in the end we’ll start from the third and fourth row. The riders will put in a lot of effort at the beginning of the race to try and get close to the top early on.”
Alex Rins
“We did a good job today, improving the lap time a lot compared to yesterday – which was our plan. In qualifying I tried to give 100% but I didn’t really feel very good with the front tyre that I used. But the third row and 9th place isn’t so bad, and I think I can have a good race anyway. It will be really nice to ride in front of the Spanish fans.”
Joan Mir
“I thought I could get a bit higher on the grid, and I feel that 12th doesn’t show our real potential today, especially as I was fast in FP3 and FP4. In general, I’m very happy with my feeling on the bike, and yesterday we made a step forward. But in qualifying my feeling was really different and I couldn’t match my lap times from the morning, so we need to find out why that was. We need to improve, but I’m looking forward to the race.”
More, from a press release issued by Pramac Racing:
Gran Premio Red Bull de España – Qualifying
#SpanishGP Quali. First MotoGP Qualifying Top 10 for Pecco. Jack didn’t make it to Q2 and will start from row 5.
First Top 10 in qualifying for Pecco Bagnaia who made great steps forward lap after lap. Jack is unlucky in FP3 and in Q1 he can’t be effective. Here’s in detail the high lights of Saturday at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto.
FP3 (Practice condition: dry – Air 18° – Ground 21°)
P12 Jack Miller (1’37.424, +0.048 from Top 10, +0.467 from P1)
The red flag interrupted Jack’s best lap and he was forced to return to the track with the medium tyre to preserve the soft tyres in view of the qualifying. The Australian rider pushed to the maximum but could not win the direct qualification to Q2 for only 48 thousandths of a second.
P17 Pecco Bagnaia (1’38.006, +0.589 from Top 10, +1.049 from P1)
The feeling with the rear hard tire is very good. Pecco is not able to make the most of the soft tyre in the time attack at the end of the session and is forced to pass through Q1.
FP4 (Practice condition: dry – Air 18° – Ground 21°)
P7 Pecco Bagnaia (1’38.086, +0.435 from P1)
The feeling with the rear hard rubber is very interesting.
P11 Jack Miller (1’38.404, +754 from P1)
Jack works on the race pace and concludes 11 laps
Q1 (Practice condition: dry – Air 21° – Ground 31°)
P2 Pecco Bagnaia (1’37.299, +0.135 from P1)
A great Q1 for Pecco who wins the second Q2 in his first MotoGP season.
P5 Jack Miller (1’37.605, +0.441 from P1)
Jack can’t find ideal conditions in the first run. In the second time attack, he pushes hard but crashes in the last lap.
Q2 (Practice condition: dry – Air 20° – Ground 30°)
P10 Pecco Bagnaia (1’37.384, +0.504 from P1)
Pecco wins the first Top 10 on the grid after a good qualifying that ends just 33 thousandths of a second from the third row.
P10 – Pecco Bagnaia
“I am very satisfied with the result we achieved in qualifying but above all with what we did in the FP4. The race pace is really good and we made a good step forward. I am convinced that I am competitive on the pace to be able to have a good race tomorrow”.
P15 – Jack Miller
“It’s been a difficult day. The red flag in the FP3 didn’t allow me to take advantage of the soft tyre. I tried the medium one but obviously, it wasn’t easy. In Q1 I struggled a bit with the wind. I’m still confident because the race pace is good”.
More, from a press release issued by Red Bull KTM:
| ESPARGARO AND ZARCO ONLY 0.6 OF A SECOND FROM JEREZ Q2 QUALIFICATION |
| MotoGP 2019 – Round 4, Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto (ESP) Qualification |
| Red Bull KTM’s Pol Espargaro will occupy 17th position on the grid at Jerez for the Red Bull Grand Prix of Spain and round four of nineteen tomorrow. In the first of four home races this year, Pol sits one place ahead of teammate Johann Zarco after both missed out on the Q2 session by over half a second and are less than one second from Fabio Quartararo’s record-breaking Pole Position effort. |
 |
| The first MotoGP round to hit European soil after visits to Qatar, Argentina and the United States saw the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto welcome Grand Prix for the 33rd year in a row and since the first time FIM world championship action took place at the compact, recently resurfaced and relatively flat layout in southern Spain in the late 1980s. Bright early summer conditions produced temperatures of more than 25 degrees through Free Practice on Friday and a slightly cooler climate – and therefore improved grip – greeted FP3, FP4 and the Qualification run today as the famous Jerez hillsides began to fill with fans and spectators.
Red Bull KTM were operating out of their full race structure for the first time this year and around the Jerez curves since the test in November at the end of 2018. Johann Zarco had benefitted from extra track time at a private two-day test in Le Mans prior to the weekend and Pol Espargaro was competing at a venue where he had previously sampled three podium finishes in all classes. Zarco suffered two falls on Friday but was more competitive and closer to his teammate this afternoon. Espargaro set a lap almost a full second faster than his best in 2018 but was six tenths of a second away in Q1 from making the cut for Q2 (Zarco just several hundredths slower with a new chassis on the KTM RC16) as he wrestled an issue with tyre traction. Red Bull KTM Tech3’s Miguel Oliveira – confirmed today as a Red Bull KTM Tech3 rider in 2020 – is in 22nd with Hazifh Syahrin 23rd. Now back on a regular European schedule the 25-lap MotoGP race will begin at 14.00 CET after Moto3 (11.00) and Moto2 (12.20) have taken place. Pol Espargaro: “We were fast this morning and only 0.4 from the fastest but we were 12th and that meant we couldn’t go directly to Q2. In qualifying we had problems with grip and it was a bit of a lottery with what tyre to use. We were trying to work out what was going on because we can turn and accelerate better but then we suffered and could not improve. We have to accept where we are and although it will be a hard comeback tomorrow we will do all we can to be as far forward as possible.” Johann Zarco: “It was my best qualification performance of the season so far, so this is a positive thing. We are a bit less than a second from Fabio and benefitted from something new this weekend. I was able to smile a bit more in the box this afternoon with the improvement we made. The track is difficult because everybody is so close but we have positive thoughts on what we have done. The new chassis gives me a bit better balance and with more possibilities on the bike; when I feel this way the lap-time comes because I can play more.” Miguel Oliveira: “It was a tricky day although we were able to be a lot faster than yesterday. In Qualifying we couldn’t match the best lap time from FP3, which was a bit disappointing. At the moment we struggle to find the best feeling on the bike and to go fast, so it was not the best of the weekends so far but we still have the race tomorrow.” Hafizh Syahrin: “I didn’t have a good feeling with the bike today. We tried to find a decent setup but in the end it has been a bit disappointing for everybody. To be honest, I was a bit confused as we tried many different things and in the end, it was difficult to break the 1’40s mark. We need to make a step forward and try tomorrow.” Moto2 & Moto3 Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Brad Binder was 10th fastest in the Moto2 Q2 chrono and from what was a tight contest for the front row of the grid. The South African, a former GP winner at Jerez, was three tenths of second adrift of Jorge Navarro. Jorge Martin will attempt to fight back from 22nd place. In Moto3 SKY Racing Team VR46’s Celestino Vietti will start from 3rd place on the grid for what is the Italian’s best qualification in just his seventh Grand Prix appearance. Teammate Dennis Foggia is in 5th. Races: May 5, 2019 – Moto3 11.00 | Moto2 12.20 | MotoGP 14.00 CET Results Qualifying MotoGP Circuito de Jerez Angel Nieto 2019 1. Fabio Quartararo (FRA), Yamaha 1:36.880 Results Qualifying Moto2 Circuito de Jerez Angel Nieto 2019 Results Qualifying Moto3 Circuito de Jerez Angel Nieto 2019 1. Lorenzo Dalla Porta (ITA) Honda 1:46.011 |
More, from a press release issued by PETRONAS Yamaha Sepang Racing Team:
Historic qualifying one-two for PETRONAS Yamaha SRT at Spanish GP
Fabio Quartararo becomes the youngest ever polesitter in MotoGP history. Franco Morbidelli rounds off an excellent team double with a sensational second position.
1st FABIO QUARTARARO 1:36.880
2nd FRANCO MORBIDELLI +0.082
Saturday at the Jerez-Angel Nieto Circuit proved to be a perfect day for PETRONAS Yamaha SRT. In only the Malaysian team’s fourth-ever Grand Prix, Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli claimed the top two positions on the MotoGP grid for tomorrow’s Spanish GP. Fabio achieved his first MotoGP pole, making history as the youngest rider ever to do so in the premier class, while Franco finished in a magnificent second position – his best result so far.
In FP3, Quartararo and Morbidelli claimed a direct route into Q2. Quartararo clocked a best time of 1:37.232, which allowed him to place third. Morbidelli also improved his time and was ninth thanks to a 1:37.370. The result saw the two PETRONAS Yamaha SRT riders once more in the decisive Q2 session, maintaining an unbroken record for every race this year.
Following FP4, where the duo worked on race pace, Fabio Quartararo made history. Aged just 20 years old, he now holds the honour of being the youngest poleman in MotoGP history. He achieved this with a 1:38.880 lap on his second run – improving the fastest-ever official MotoGP lap of this circuit (1:36.957). Franco Morbidelli also shone, grabbing his first front row start in the premier class by finishing second with his 1:36.962 lap – the best personal lap of the weekend.
Today was an unforgettable day for PETRONAS Yamaha SRT and Southeast Asia. The team hope to build on it tomorrow in the 25-lap Spanish GP, which gets underway at 2pm local time.
#21 Franco Morbidelli
“I am very happy with Q2 today here in Jerez; I had a lot of fun. It was down to a great job by the team. We worked very well and we have been fast throughout the weekend so far. We have been improving little by little and finding what we’re looking for to go forward, lap after lap. We had already progressed in FP3, getting straight into Q2 with the times very close.
I was able to find a good reference to follow in qualifying, setting the time that took us into second place. When I finished the lap, looked at the circuit’s video screen and saw all the members of the team celebrating it, I couldn’t believe it. Then I saw that Fabio [Quartararo] had taken pole position too, which was more than deserved. It’s a great day for PETRONAS Yamaha SRT. Tomorrow we will have to finish it off.”
#20 Fabio Quartararo
“What I’ve experienced this Saturday here in Jerez is incredible. I still can’t believe it. I did not expect to take pole today, so it was fantastic. This is the result of the entire team’s work throughout the weekend. I want to thank them for making this possible. In addition to being fast over a single lap, I think our race pace is good, so I hope to be able to fight for a great result. This pole and Franky’s second position are very special for the team. We are a new team in the class and it is incredible to achieve a 1-2 at only the fourth round of the year. I hope we can achieve this more often during the season.”
More, from a press release issued by Dorna:
Not too fast for Fabio: rookie makes history as he takes pole in Jerez
Frenchman on fabulous form in Spain to take his first ever premier class pole position – and become the youngest to do so
Saturday, 04 May 2019
Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) has become the youngest ever MotoGP™ polesitter after a history maker of a day in the Gran Premio Red Bull de España, with the Frenchman breaking both the lap record and the pole position age record in Jerez. At 20 years and 14 days old he’s younger than the 20 years and 62 days of Marc Marquez’ (Repsol Honda Team) previous record at COTA set in 2013, and with a 1:36.880 he’s well inside the previous fastest ever lap of the track. Teammate Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) was close behind though, just 0.082 in arrears for his front row start in the premier class, and the two became the first to take a 1-2 for an Independent Team since Valencia 2005. That’s as well as taking the first pole and front row starts for their new Petronas Yamaha SRT team. Reigning Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) completes the top three, and he says he’ll try and ensure his record as the youngest winner in the MotoGP™ class won’t go the same way as the pole record when the lights go out on Sunday…
Behind Quartararo on the grid is Championship leader Andrea Dovizioso (Mission Winnow Ducati), on the hunt for his first premier class podium at the last venue on the calendar where he’s yet to achieve one, with Q1 graduate Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) alongside him in fifth after a solid recovery from a tough morning – including a good showing in race-pace important FP4. Last year’s polesitter – and the previous lap record holder – is in sixth, as Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Crutchlow) bounced back from a crash in FP3 to complete the second row.
Next up is Danilo Petrucci (Mission Winnow Ducati) in P7 after the Italian was fastest on Friday, and despite a crash he has the Jerez Test’s fastest rider Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) and COTA winner Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) just behind him on the third row. Rookie Francesco Bagnaia (Pramac Racing) put in an impressive performance to complete the top ten after heading through from Q1 alongside Viñales.
11th place is a man to watch for on Sunday afternoon, and a man who’ll be hoping to reassert his reputation as the fastest starter in the field: Jorge Lorenzo (Repsol Honda Team). With three premier class wins at Jerez, the number 99’s record is a very good one – and it’s a crash in Q2 that leaves him down the order, not a lack of outright pace. Meanwhile alongside him, Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) made it three of four rookies in Q2 for the first time this season and he starts in P12 near the five-time Champion.
In 13th, however, is one of the biggest headlines from Saturday: Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP). The ‘Doctor’ had a tough Saturday and was denied a chance at graduation to Q2 by VR46 Aademy rider Francesco Bagnaia…but Rossi has always brought the magic on race day. What can he achieve from P13?
Wildcard and HRC test rider Stefan Bradl (HRC Team) was in P14, with Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) just behind in P15. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini), meanwhile, was just ahead of brother Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) as they took P16 and P17, but the Aprilia was inside Crutchlow’s 2018 lap record and the KTM only just over a tenth outside it – the top 16 able to better that laptime showing how incredible the level of competition is once again. And some of them will surely be looking to follow the ‘Doctor’ through the pack and get in the incredibly tight fight at the front in Jerez once the lights go out…
History was made on Saturday by Quartararo, and there’s plenty at stake on Sunday in a tantalising Spanish GP. The world’s fastest motorcycle racing Championship goes racing for the first time in Europe this season at 14:00 (GMT +2) local time at the classic Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto. Don’t miss it!
Navarro heads all-Spanish front row in Jerez
Spaniard takes his first intermediate class pole on home turf
Jorge Navarro (HDR Heidrun Speed Up) converted practice pace to pole on Saturday at the Gran Premio Red Bull de España, taking his first ever pole position in the intermediate class and his first pole since Silverstone 2015. His margin was only 0.091 though as former winner at the venue Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) came close, and Augusto Fernandez (Flexbox HP 40) made it three Spaniards at the top as he was third fastest to take his first ever front row start.
On a cooler Saturday, the big surprise names in Q1 included both Red Bull KTM Ajo riders Brad Binder and Jorge Martin despite their pace on Friday, and the race was on for both to move through. In the end though only Binder could, third fastest behind Iker Lecuona (American Racing KTM) and Andrea Locatelli (Italtrans Racing Team). The three were only 0.057 apart though, with Xavi Vierge (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) the fourth man heading to Q2 another 0.060 in arrears.
By the end of Q2 though, it was a familiar name at the top: Friday’s fastest, Jorge Navarro. The Spaniard, who took his first intermediate class podium at COTA last time out, took Speed Up to the top for the first time since, incidentally, Fabio Quartararo in 2018. Marquez was within a tenth though, and Fernandez is pretty close company in third after his incredibly impressive day at the office.
Heading up Row 2 is ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team rider Remy Gardner as the Aussie got back on the pace after a tougher Texas, with Nicolo Bulega (Sky Racing Team VR46) another impressive performer in fifth. Fastest rookie and after having missed Texas too, it’s a stunner from the Italian who was on pole in the lightweight class at the venue in 2016. Row 2 is locked out by Championship leader Lorenzo Baldassarri (Flexbox HP 40) after a tougher weekend so far than expected, punctuated by crashes and some technical issues on Friday.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (HDR Heidrun Speed Up) took P7 and was only a single thousandth off Baldassarri for his best ever intermediate class qualifying so far, ahead of COTA winner Tom Lüthi (Dynavolt Intact GP) and Tetsuta Nagashima (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team). Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo) completes the top ten at the venue where he took his first Grand Prix win back in 2016 when he stormed from last to the victory in Moto3™.
Former Jerez winner Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2), Xavi Vierge (EG 0,0 MArc VDS), Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46), Marcel Schrötter (Dynavolt Intact GP) and Andrea Locatelli (Italtrans Racing Team) complete the fastest fifteen on Saturday. But racing is a Sunday sport and plenty can be gained and lost under the midday sun in Spain, so make sure to watch the fourth race of the season at classic Jerez from 12:20 (GMT +2) local time.
Dalla Porta pips Suzuki to pole in Spain
Leopard Racing rider takes his first ever pole in Jerez by just 0.004
Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) will start the Gran Premio Red Bull de España from his first ever pole position, taking the honour by an infinitesimal 0.004 seconds from second on the grid Tatsuki Suzuki (SIC58 Squadra Corse) in a tight session in Jerez. Impressive rookie Celestino Vietti (Sky Racing Team VR46) joins them on the front row after his best qualifying yet as well, with both he and Suzuki having gone from Q1 to front row.
A cloudier day greeted the grid on Saturday and there were a good few names in Q1 to keep an eye out for – including the two men who would go on to qualify near the top. Qatar winner Kaito Toba (Honda Team Asia), preseason pace man Tony Arbolino (VNE Snipers) and Championship leader Jaume Masia (Bester Capital Dubai) were other key players in a busy session, it all went down to the wire with Suzuki and Vietti joined in Q2 by Masia and his teammate Andrea Migno.
With the clock then reset for the session that would decide the top 18 on the grid, it was go time for Q2 and Dalla Porta, Suzuki and Vietti took to the top. They’re followed by a second row of Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse), Dennis Foggia (Sky Racing Team VR46) and Gabriel Rodrigo (Kömmerling Gresini Moto3), with second in the Championship Aron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) pushed down to seventh. The Spaniard suffered some key drama in the session and encountered a mechanical problem, leaving him out of the battle for pole but fast enough on his first run to remain on the third row.
Eighth fastest was home hero Marcos Ramirez (Leopard Racing), with the returning Albert Arenas (Sama Qatar Angel Nieto Team) in ninth and two-time Jerez winner Romano Fenati (VNE Snipers) completing the top ten. Behind them come Ayumu Sasaki (Petronas Sprinta Racing), Jakub Kornfeil (Redox PrustelGP), Migno and John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing), with Championship leader Jaume Masia down in fifteenth and looking for a fight back on Sunday.
Who can take the heat in Jerez? It’s still anyone’s game, so tune in at 11:00 (GMT+2) local time on Sunday as the lights go out for Moto3™.