MotoGP: Jorge Martin sets new lap record to claim Silverstone pole
Northamptonshire, August 8
Jorge Martin has come out swinging after the summer break to take the first pole position of the second half, setting a new lap record 1'56.160 to pip Raul Fernandez to the top by just 0.021 at the United Kingdom MotoGP at the Silverstone Circuit, according to a press release from MotoGP/Eurosport.
The SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team made it with both riders on the front row as Ai Ogura slots into third alongside his teammate.
The top six in the Championship are the top six on the grid - not in the same order barring P1 - with Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) fourth, Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) fifth and Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) P6.
Silverstone qualifying delivered plenty of drama, with four former winners -- Fabio Quartararo, Francesco Bagnaia, Enea Bastianini and Alex Rins -- featuring in Q1 as riders battled for a place in the final qualifying session.
Franco Morbidelli initially led Q1, with Diogo Moreira in second, but Iker Lecuona produced a strong final lap to move into the top two. Quartararo also pushed hard on his final attempt but missed out on Q2 by just 0.050 seconds. Morbidelli and Lecuona advanced, while Quartararo qualified 13th and Moreira 14th.
Q2 saw several changes at the top of the timing sheets. Marco Bezzecchi briefly took the lead before Raul Fernandez set a new lap record of 1:56.181. Ai Ogura then moved into second, while Fabio Di Giannantonio climbed to third.
However, Jorge Martin had the final say. The Aprilia rider produced a brilliant 1:56.160 on his last flying lap to take pole position, edging Fernandez by 0.021 seconds. Ogura completed an all-Aprilia front row.
Bezzecchi qualified fifth, with Di Giannantonio the only rider to break Aprilia's dominance in the top six. Alex Marquez will start seventh, followed by Morbidelli and Pedro Acosta.
Iker Lecuona impressed to qualify 10th, while Jack Miller was the top Yamaha rider in 11th. Joan Mir took 12th.
Francesco Bagnaia endured a difficult session and will start 16th, while Rins qualified 17th, Brad Binder 18th and Bastianini 19th. Home favourite Cal Crutchlow will start 20th, just 0.020 seconds behind Bastianini.
Pol Espargaro, Toprak Razgatlioglu and wildcard rider Augusto Fernandez complete the remaining positions on the grid.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Silverstone never disappoints! 🔥 That final flying lap from Martin was pure poetry. These close margins - 0.021 seconds - remind me why MotoGP is the most thrilling motorsport. So happy to see Quartararo miss Q2 though, he's been overrated lately.
As someone who got into MotoGP through watching Indian racing events, this qualifying session was amazing. The Yamaha boys are struggling though - Miller 11th and Crutchlow 20th? Yamaha really needs to sort out their bike. Also, great to see Lecuona and Ogura doing well - the future of this sport is bright.
Honestly, I think the whole Q1-Q2 format is getting too complicated for casual viewers like me. But I do love the drama it creates! 😅 Although I'm sad about Bagnaia, this just makes tomorrow's race more unpredictable. Aprilia dominating is exactly what MotoGP needs - more competition means more excitement!
Yaar, no Indian timezone-friendly coverage for us! I had to wake up at 3 AM to catch this live. But worth it honestly. Martin is on fire since the break - that new layout suits him perfectly. Looking at the grid, I'd say it's Martin's race to lose, but Marc Marquez in P6 is dangerous. Don't count him out!
The transformation of Aprilia this season is absolutely remarkable. From podium contenders to now locking out the entire front row - they've done a fantastic job. Raul Fernandez has been quietly consistent all year too. Meanwhile
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