MotoGP: Pol, KTM Take First MotoGP Pole

Despite threats of rain both in the forecasts and in the views over the mountains that are the backdrop of the Red Bull Ring, MotoGP qualifying for the Styrian Grand Prix got underway in fine conditions.

In Q1, a heroic effort from Johann Zarco saw him advance to Q2 less than one week after breaking his scaphoid in the Austrian Grand Prix. Of course, any result taken by Zarco in qualifying can be discounted since he will be starting from pit lane, but the performance was impressive nonetheless. Danilo Petrucci joined his Ducati stablemate in moving through to Q2. 

Zarco’s impressive performance continued into Q2, as he set the third-fastest time. It was, of course, for nothing other than another press conference appearance for the Frenchman, but with confirmation from Ducati that he will continue with them in 2021 (although it is not yet confirmed with which team) there is a lot for the #5 to be happy about at the moment with regards to MotoGP. 

On pole, though, it was Pol Espargaro who took his and KTM’s first MotoGP pole position. It was somewhat expected, but the unpredictability of the session, and the miniscule gaps by which so many riders were separated meant it was not confirmed until the end. Now, the #44 has to make it count on Sunday. 

It was also a first for Takaaki Nakagami, who scored his first MotoGP front row. In the hands of the Japanese rider, the 2019 Honda looks leagues better than the 2020 version that Alex Marquez and Stefan Bradl are currently piloting. The #30 is in the form of his life, and tomorrow has a genuine opportunity to take his first MotoGP podium.

Courtesy of Zarco’s penalty, Joan Mir will start from third. The Spaniard’s pace is outstanding, and if he can arrive in the first corner ahead of Nakagami and Espargaro tomorrow, using Suzuki’s potent holeshot device, could have a chance to impose his pace and make a break. 

A crash for Jack Miller in FP3 caused some damage to his shoulder, which was then treated before FP4, although the Australian missed the start of the final free practice session as a result. Even in FP4 itself, Miller did only one lap, an out-in-lap, and set no time. But in qualifying he was fast, and was able to be fifth-fastest, enough for fourth on the grid. The Australian will be joined on the second row by the top Yamaha, Maverick Vinales, and Alex Rins, who might be slightly concerned about his teammate starting from the front row. 

Miguel Oliveira qualified seventh, just missing out on the second row, ahead of Andrea Dovizioso who will have work to do from eighth on the grid. Similarly, Fabio Quartararo will start from ninth, and thanks to the speed deficit of the Yamaha will likely have a harder time cutting through the pack than Dovizioso. Tomorrow’s race will be the first to not feature Quartararo on the front row since Silverstone last year. 

Franco Morbidelli and Danilo Petrucci completed the order for Q2, and they will start from 10th and 11th place, respectively. 

Iker Lecuona was harshly denied a Q2 spot by Danilo Petrucci, but the speed exhibited by the Spaniard proved that KTM have four very competitive riders and Lecuona himself will start from 12th. The second of those in Q1 being Brad Binder, who was fourth-fastest in Q1 and if he is to fight for the podium tomorrow, will have to do so 13th on the grid after Zarco’s penalty is applied. 

Binder certainly has the pace to fight for the top positions, though, and Valentino Rossi’s pace is not too far away, either. A mistake on his fastest lap in FP3 at turn nine meant Rossi had to take Q1 for the second time in a week at the Red Bull Ring, and a crash on his final lap in Q1 means he will have to start from 14th in tomorrow’s inaugural Styrian MotoGP. Binder and Rossi will be joined on the fifth row by Michele Pirro, in what should be the #51’s final race before Francesco Bagnaia returns in Misano. 

At the front of row six will be Alex Marquez, ahead of Cal Crutchlow and Bradley Smith who out-qualified Aleix Espargaro for the first time this season, the Spaniard starting one place behind his Aprilia teammate in 19th at the front of the seventh row. There, Espargaro will be joined by Stefan Bradl and Tito Rabat, and they will likely be the first to have what could be a fairly angry Johann Zarco closing in on them after his pit lane start.