MotoGp qualifying, Portugal: Marquez in polem Bagnaia in the front row

MotoGp qualifying, Portugal: Marquez in polem Bagnaia in the front row

PORTIMAO - That driver is a champion, a champion. And a demon. Marc Marquez he takes the first pole of the MotoGP season. The Cannibal is back, despite a Honda which is certainly not the best bike on the grid. He did it his way, cynically exploiting the slipstream of Bastianini's Ducati and beating the best time of I'm sorry Bagnaia. He will start in front of everyone in a few hours (the sprint race is scheduled for 5pm Italian time) and tomorrow afternoon, when the Portuguese gp gets underway at 4pm. The air is already crisp. "It's perhaps not the nicest way to do it, but with this Honda I have no alternatives", the Catalan almost justifies himself for his shameless strategy. "I understood that due to the new regulation it was no longer allowed to behave like this, but that's okay", snorts the world champion from Piedmont, who thanks to his second time trial will in any case start from the front row flanked by another Ducati rider, Martin.

The 'vice' of the Cannibal: "I have no alternative"

Marc, Pecco: 64 thousandths separate them. Marquez, who had already impressed by winning Q1, the qualifying of the slowest riders on Friday free practice, in Q2 he slyly waited until the end and then stuck to the Gp23 of the 'Beast', who had started pulling strong and of course he continued, looking for the best possible finish. "Going behind an opponent is the only chance I have, to set the right time. I have to make the most of my riding style. This isn't Honda's real position, they're much further back: but for now, that's perfectly fine. now let's try to do our best in the afternoon".

Bagnaia puts up with it: "Anyway, I had a great time"

Bagnaia tries - for now - to take it philosophically: "I'm very happy with my first lap, the one with the best time. It's a shame that in the second I was hindered by some riders (in particular Oliveira, ed)". He didn't like the Cannibal's maneuver. "But that's okay, this Ducati gives me great confidence." The Borgo Panigale bikes are doing great, as demonstrated by Martin's 3rd time trial: "I'm twice happy, even if I expected something more from the front tyre: I was crashing in all the corners", says the Spaniard of team Pramac. "The time trial is good, the position a little less. But I was aiming for the front row, for now I'm happy with it".

Tardozzi, Ducati: "At least Marquez thanks us..."

"Marc is Marc, hats off. But at least you give us the watch that they give as a prize to those who take pole. Because we gave them a little help today...", jokes Davide Tardozzi, Ducati team manager. The other official Borgo Panigale rider is on the second row: Bastianini finished 6th, despite some problems going into corners. Better than him was the Aprilia of Oliveira (4th), the local boy, and the Ktm of the Australian Miller (who crashed in the second part of Q2), who continues to amaze in terms of effectiveness. Third row entirely of Italian bikes: Vinales with the Aprilia precedes the pair Mooney Vr46, formed by Bezzecchi and Marini. Fourth row for another Ducati (Zarco), the Yamaha of a less brilliant Quartararo in qualifying than in practice, the Aprilia of Aleix Espargarò who lay down at turn 13. Morbidelli did no better than 17th on the M1 , fourth row; last on the grid Di Giannantonio.



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