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Ducati’s Pecco Bagnaia blew his shot at challenging Marc Marquez by crashing during qualifying, handing the pole position to the reigning champion.
Ducati Lenovo’s Spanish rider Marc Marquez celebrates his pole position following the qualifying session for the Qatar Moto GP Grand Prix at the Lusail International Circuit on April 12, 2025. (Photo by Karim JAAFAR / AFP)
Marc Marquez broke the Lusail lap record set minutes earlier by his brother Alex, the championship leader, in qualifying Saturday for the Qatar sprint and MotoGP races.
Francesco Bagnaia, who is second in the standings ahead of Marc Marquez, crashed late in the session and ended with the 11th best time, which will put him on the fourth row of the grid.
Frenchman Fabio Quartararo grabbed the third front row spot on his Yamaha, his first in three seasons, and will start alongside the Spanish brothers on their Ducatis.
Bagnaia, the double-world champion, has struggled to keep pace with his new factory Ducati stablemate this season.
Marc Marquez had won all three sprints and two Sunday grand prix until he crashed while leading the last race, the Grand Prix of the Americas.
Bagnaia pounced to win in Austin, while Alex Marquez finished second once again to move to the top of the standings. Just eight points separate the three riders.
Marc Marquez hit back Saturday with the 70th pole position of his career but his first in Qatar since 2014.
Defending champion Jorge Martin, racing for the first time this season as he returns from a couple of bone-breaking crashes, was not fast enough to make the final qualifying session and will start on the fifth row when racing begins with the sprint at 1700 GMT.
Grid for the sprint and MotoGP race at the Qatar Grand Prix after qualifying in Lusail on Saturday:
Front row
Marc Marquez (ESP/Ducati), Alex Marquez (ESP/Ducati-Gresini), Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha)
2nd row
Franco Morbidelli (ITA/Ducati-VR46), Fabio Di Giannantonio (ITA/Ducati-VR46), Maverick Vinales (ESP/KTM-Tech3)
3rd row
Johann Zarco (FRA/Honda-LCR), Fermin Aldeguer (ESP/Ducati-Gresini), Alex Rins (ESP/Yamaha),
4th row
Ai Ogura (JPN/Aprilia-Trackhouse), Francesco Bagnaia (ITA/Ducati), Pedro Acosta (ESP/KTM)
5th row
Marco Bezzecchi (ITA/Aprilia), Jorge Martin (ESP/Aprilia), Luca Marini (ITA/Honda)
6th row
Jack Miller (AUS/Yamaha-Pramac), Raul Fernandez (ESP/Aprilia-Trackhouse), Brad Binder (RSA/KTM)
7th row
Augusto Fernandez (ESP/Pramac-Yamaha), Enea Bastianini (ITA/KTM Tech3), Joan Mir (ESP/Honda),
8th row
Somkiat Chantra (THA/Honda-LCR)
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