Qatar MotoGP: Bezzecchi record pole, Márquez 2nd

Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia) took pole position for the Qatar MotoGP at Lusail in 1'50.028, a new lap record according to Crash.net. He is 0.266 s ahead of Marc Márquez (Ducati) and 0.299 s ahead of Fabio Di Giannantonio (VR46 Ducati). Jorge Martin will start only 11th.

A record pole for Bezzecchi

It is Bezzecchi's first pole since Misano, Motorsport Magazin reports. On his second Q2 run he cut Márquez's record by almost three tenths, then improved again on his final lap. Márquez, about three tenths adrift after his first runs, could not close the gap. The session ran in 34°C air and 42°C track temperatures. On Friday, Di Giannantonio had already set a lap record in practice, a 1'50.406.

The Qatar grid

Only 18 bikes will start, as Yamaha has skipped this Grand Prix. The first twelve:

• 1. Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia): 1'50.028
• 2. Marc Márquez (Ducati): +0.266 s
• 3. Fabio Di Giannantonio (VR46 Ducati): +0.299 s
• 4. Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Aprilia): +0.429 s
• 5. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati): +0.564 s
• 6. Ai Ogura (Trackhouse Aprilia): +0.568 s
• 7. Johann Zarco (LCR Honda): +0.707 s
• 8. Pedro Acosta (KTM): +0.844 s
• 9. Fermin Aldeguer (Gresini Ducati): +0.862 s
• 10. Enea Bastianini (Tech3 KTM): +0.973 s
• 11. Jorge Martin (Aprilia): +1.036 s
• 12. Brad Binder (KTM): +1.876 s

Pedro Acosta had to come through Q1 after a difficult Friday and qualified eighth. Brad Binder crashed at Turn 1 on his first push lap, compromising his session. Franco Morbidelli, Luca Marini, Iker Lecuona, Diogo Moreira, Jake Dixon and Maverick Viñales, all knocked out in Q1, fill 13th to 18th; Viñales is last, still hampered by an injured shoulder.

Martin frustrated, title still open

Jorge Martin was eighth after the second Q2 run but could not improve. According to The Race, he was angry with Acosta, who he felt did not get out of the way enough late in the session. In the standings, Motorsport Magazin lists Márquez first on 399 points, ahead of Martin (355) and Bezzecchi (332). Starting 11th makes things harder for Martin.

The schedule

The sprint is on Saturday 7 November at 16:00 GMT, the race on Sunday 8 November at 16:00 GMT.

Key points

• Bezzecchi: pole in 1'50.028, a lap record.
• Márquez is second, Martin 11th.
• Sprint Saturday and race Sunday, 16:00 GMT.

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