Bezzecchi Grabs Pole, Bagnaia On Front Row For Thai MotoGP
Muhammad Rameez Published October 01, 2022 | 04:10 PM
Buriram, Thailand, Oct 1 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Oct, 2022 ) :Italian rookie Marco Bezzecchi clinched his first MotoGP pole position on Saturday as he scorched his way to a lap record in Thailand, with title contender Francesco Bagnaia qualifying third.
It will be an all Ducati front row for Sunday's 26-lap race at Buriram after Bezzecchi, 23, set a best time of one minute 29.671 seconds, pipping Spaniard Jorge Martin by 0.021 seconds and Bagnaia (0.104 sec).
World champion Fabio Quartararo was fourth-fastest on his Yamaha.
"I didn't know that I was pole position because I couldn't see the big screen in the sun," Bezzecchi said after qualifying in style late in the second session.
"It's unbelievable, big emotions. I'm very proud to make it." Frenchman Quartararo characterised it as a tough day at the office but says that he has "a clear goal" for Sunday, when wet conditions are forecast.
With four races to go, he leads the standings by 18 points over Italy's Bagnaia. Spain's Aleix Espargaro is third and also in the championship hunt, but he will start from 13th on the grid.
"Now we have to finish ahead of him (Bagnaia) and Aleix (on Sunday), but it's not going to be easy.
We'll have to stay very focused," Quartararo told reporters.
"We have a good pace, I think I can do something really good by starting fourth." Bagnaia, who has been the form rider in MotoGP in the second half of the season and whittled away Quartararo's lead, was quietly confident.
"Unfortunately, in my first (qualifying) attempt I wasn't feeling so well on my bike, that was strange," he said.
"Then in the second attempt everything was good. I did a good job." "We can be competitive tomorrow," he added.
Aprilia's Espargaro, who is 25 points behind Quartararo in the championship, will need something special from the fifth row of the grid.
Spanish six-time MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez, who has won twice previously in Thailand, was eighth on his Honda.
MotoGP has returned to Thailand for the first time since 2019 after coronavirus cancelled recent editions.
There were wild celebrations as local hope Somkiat Chantra secured pole position in the MotoGP2 in front of an exuberant home crowd.
"I'm happy to see the fans and the support, I feel like I have more power than before," he said.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Mired in crisis, Boeing reports another loss
Session Awarding Ceremony 2024 held at Cadet College Muzaffarabad
Austrian ski great Hirscher to make comeback under Dutch flag
Pakistan, Japan agrees to convene 'Economic Policy Dialogue'
FM Dar conveys deepest sympathy on torrential rains devastation in UAE
Spain PM Sanchez says weighing resignation after wife's graft probe
Tennis: ATP/WTA Madrid Open results - 1st update
Long-lost Klimt portrait auctioned off for 30 mn euros
Osaka seals first win on clay since 2022 in Madrid
Earthquake jolts Karachi
Sindh minister orders operation after attack on police in Ghotki
TikTok to fight US ban law in courts
More Stories From Sports
-
Austrian ski great Hirscher to make comeback under Dutch flag
5 hours ago -
Tennis: ATP/WTA Madrid Open results - 1st update
5 hours ago -
Osaka seals first win on clay since 2022 in Madrid
5 hours ago -
Watford hire Cleverley as permanent boss
5 hours ago -
Karachi, Lahore, Multan win matches of National Women’s Cricket Tournament
6 hours ago -
No communication gap among players, asserts Babar Azam
6 hours ago
-
Bracewell looks ahead to Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan
6 hours ago -
Bolt named ICC Men’s T20 WC 2024 ambassador
7 hours ago -
Kewell's Yokohama beat Ulsan to reach Asian Champions League final
8 hours ago -
Tennis: ATP/WTA Madrid Open results
8 hours ago -
Advisor Sports hands over Rs500,000 to prominent Martial Art Athlete Irfan Mehsud
8 hours ago -
Muhammad Rizwan, Mohammad Irfan Khan ruled out of T20I series against New Zealand
9 hours ago