MotoGP: Vinales Heads Yamaha Front Row Lockout in Misano

Qualifying for the San Marino Grand Prix in the MotoGP class was one filled with excitement in anticipation of the session, after home favourite Valentino Rossi topped FP3 on Saturday morning. 

It is common, now, for ‘big names’ to be in Q1, simply because there are more than 10 ‘big names’ in MotoGP. Nonetheless, it was a surprise after FP3 to see no KTMs advance directly to Q2 given the speed of all four RC16 riders on Friday and given there are only two spots to advance to Q2 from Q1, it was guaranteed that there would be some people with strong pace who would be starting from the fifth row or lower. 

However, two of the Austrian bikes made it through to the pole position shootout, with Pol Espargaro topping the first session ahead of Styrian Grand Prix winner, Miguel Oliveira.

Q2 was perfection from Yamaha which, after a dismal time in Austria, took first through fourth on the grid in Misano. On pole was Maverick Vinales, who took the all time lap record away from Jorge Lorenzo and has a strong pace for tomorrow’s race – but the start will be the critical point, where Vinales has struggled in the past. 

Franco Morbidelli was close to his first pole position in MotoGP but once again he was denied, this time courtesy of Vinales. In the end it was second on the grid for the Italian, who will be hopeful of challenging Vinales and his teammate, Fabio Quartararo, for the victory tomorrow. With Quartararo in mind, the Frenchman qualified third, but has a similar pace to Vinales and will be in the victory battle. 

A slide on the exit of turn eight cost Valentino Rossi a shot at pole position. It also cost him the front row, and the #46 will start from fourth tomorrow and has work to do if he is to challenge his stablemates for the win. 

Joining Rossi on the second row will be the two Pramac Ducati riders, Jack Miller and Francesco Bagnaia. On his return from injury, Bagnaia has been impressive and is arguably the most convincing Desmosedici pilot on race pace, but Miller also dug in in Q2 to salvage fifth after a quiet weekend for the #43. 

The third row of the grid will be headed up by Alex Rins, who is joined by his Suzuki teammate, Joan Mir, and Andrea Dovizioso on row three. Dovizioso could be a problem for many riders tomorrow, as the Ducati rider does not necessarily have the best pace, but could make moves early on and use the strengths of the Ducati to defend, even if those strengths are diluted in Misano. 

Row four will see the two Q1 graduates, Pol Espargaro and Miguel Oliveira start from 11th and 12th, a crash for Espargaro limiting his chances in Q2 even if he was able to get back out on the second bike. Ahead of them in 10th place will be Johann Zarco.

Oliveira’s lap to put him in Q2 meant Aleix Espargaro did not make it, meaning the Spaniard was the fastest rider to not feature in Q2. The #41 Aprilia will start 13th, ahead of Takaaki Nakagami who is struggling with a nervous Honda over the more exaggerated bumps in Misano, and Danilo Petrucci who could only manage fifth in Q1 for a grid slot of 15th to complete the fifth row. 

Brad Binder will head up row six on his KTM tomorrow, whilst Tito Rabat is in a sandwich of RC16s as Iker Lecuona was eighth in Q1 for 18th on the grid – not an easy Saturday for KTM’s rookies. 

Both Repsol Honda riders will line up on row seven tomorrow, with Stefan Bradl in 19th and Alex Marquez in 21st, whilst between them will be Bradley Smith. 

21st place will also be last on the grid for Marquez, as Cal Crutchlow was declared unfit to ride on Saturday morning due to the condition of his arm after he had the fascia of his right forearm removed in the break between Styria and San Marino.