Key Points

Marc Marquez has rewritten the history books by becoming the first rider to claim 100 career pole positions. The Ducati star edged teammate Francesco Bagnaia by just 0.059 seconds in a dramatic Mugello qualifying session. Alex Marquez completed an all-Spanish front row, while Fabio Quartararo showed Yamaha's progress in fourth. Sunday's Italian GP promises fireworks with the top three separated by less than a tenth.

Key Points: Marc Marquez Claims 100th Pole at Mugello Beating Bagnaia

  • Marquez sets new Mugello lap record 1:44.169
  • Bagnaia misses pole by 0.059s in Ducati duel
  • Alex Marquez completes all-Spanish front row
  • Quartararo leads Yamaha charge from fourth
4 min read

Brembo Grand Prix: Marc Marquez pips Bagnaia to Mugello pole

Marquez makes history with record 100th pole at Italian GP, edging Ducati teammate Bagnaia by 0.059s in thrilling Mugello qualifying.

"Some achievement - MotoGP commentator on Marquez's 100th career pole"

Florence, June 22

Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) has become the first rider ever to reach triple figures in terms of career pole positions after the title race leader narrowly beat teammate Francesco Bagnaia to a Saturday morning P1 at the Brembo Grand Prix of Italy. Marquez's all-time lap record, a 1:44.169, was just 0.059s quicker than Bagnaia's best effort, as Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) claims a front row start having got within a tenth of pole in a memorable Mugello Q2.

The initial benchmark time in Q1 was set by Trackhouse MotoGP's Raul Fernandez, a 1:45.214, and the Spaniard went marginally quicker again on his second flyer to lead Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) by 0.256s.

On the second runs, though, Fernandez's pace was beaten as Aldeguer dived into the 1:44s with a 1:44.894, a lap good enough to see the rookie sit 0.264s ahead of the Trackhouse star. Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) improved his time as well to go 0.027s behind Fernandez, before Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) pounced up to P2 to demote Fernandez to P3 by 0.007s. Could anyone respond on their final attempts? Fernandez was giving it a good go and sure enough, by 0.014s, the #25 knocked the Australian out of the top two. It doesn't get a lot closer than that. Late disappointment for Prima Pramac and Miller, delight for Trackhouse and Fernandez.

Then, after a breather, MotoGP Q2 lit up the Tuscan hills. And Marc Marquez's first lap was a 1:44.500 - a new all-time lap record. Not a bad start to qualifying for the #93, as Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) went a couple of tenths adrift to sit in an early P2. But that P2 then belonged to Bagnaia as the 2022, 2023 and 2024 Italian GP victor went just 0.048s away from his teammate's time, with Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) slotted into P3.

That shoved Quartararo to a provisional P4, Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) was an early P5, and Maverick Vinales' (Red Bull KTM Tech3) first real showing in Q2 saw Top Gun set a 1:44.915 to go P6 as we then strapped in for the second set of time attacks at Mugello.

And as usual, the timing screens were lighting up with plenty of orange and red. Quartararo's third sector was unbelievable, El Diablo was over three tenths faster than Marc Marquez's time, and although he didn't hold that advantage to the line, the Yamaha star snatched provisional pole away from Ducati.

Bagnaia then had his say. A beautiful 1:44.228 saw the home hero climb to P1, Alex Marquez came close and went P2 before Marc Marquez regained top spot by 0.059s. This was some serious pace. Could anyone find time with just over a minute to go?

Vinales wasn't far away, three-quarters of the way around his latest attempt, but it wasn't enough to see the Tech3 rider leap onto the front row. It was P5 for the Practice pacesetter, and that was the final improvement of the session, which meant Marc Marquez clinched that 100th career pole position. Some achievement. Bagnaia and Alex Marquez make up a front row split by 0.083s, boy is that set up nicely for the Tissot Sprint and Grand Prix.

Battling through the pain, Quartararo spearheads Row 2 ahead of Vinales and Morbidelli, as Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) earns a P7 grid slot on home turf. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) launched from P8, Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) aims for Sprint points from P9 as Row 4 is made up of Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing), Fernandez and Aldeguer.

Catch all the action from MotoGP 2025 - Brembo Grand Prix of Italy - Main Race, live on Eurosport from 2:15 pm onwards on Sunday.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

Here are 6 diverse Indian perspective comments for the MotoGP article:
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Rahul K.
What a thrilling qualifying session! Marquez making history with 100 poles is incredible. As an Indian motorsport fan, I wish we had such world-class racing events here. The closest we get is Buddh International Circuit, but MotoGP left India after just one season 😔 Hope they return soon!
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Priya M.
The Ducati dominance continues! 🇮🇹 Bagnaia was so close to taking pole at his home race. As an Indian watching from Mumbai, I'm excited for the race - these tiny margins (0.059s!) show how competitive MotoGP has become. Hope our Indian riders can reach this level someday 🤞
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Arjun S.
Mugello is such a beautiful circuit! The Tuscan hills make for stunning visuals. Though I wonder - with all the money in Indian motorsports, why can't we develop a permanent world-class circuit like this? Our riders have talent but lack infrastructure. #InvestInMotorsports
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Sneha R.
The Marquez brothers both on front row! Family talent at its best 👏 As an Indian woman who rides bikes, this inspires me. Though I wish more Indian girls would take up professional racing - we need our own version of Ana Carrasco!
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Vikram J.
Honestly, while the racing is exciting, the time difference makes it hard for Indian fans to watch live. The main race at 2:15pm Italy time means 5:45pm here - clashes with family time and dinner. Wish they'd consider Asian timezones more often!
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Neha P.
Quartararo's performance on that Yamaha deserves respect! While everyone focuses on Ducati, he's extracting maximum from less competitive machinery. Reminds me of how our Indian athletes often outperform despite limited resources. True sportsmanship! 💪

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