Valentino Rossi and his team have showcased their dominance at the Buddh International Circuit, consistently topping the timesheets in every session. This impressive performance has positioned them as the favorites heading into the pole shootout segment of qualifying. Rossi’s teammate, Bezzecchi, secured his third pole of the season, marking a significant achievement for the entire team. This pole position is particularly special as it is the first one since the British GP.
After a challenging Friday practice session, reigning world champion Francesco Bagnaia bounced back and secured a spot on the front row for the factory Ducati squad. Despite feeling like something was missing in terms of braking, Bagnaia managed to put his struggles behind him and deliver an impressive performance.
The factory Honda duo of Joan Mir and Marc Marquez made a statement by both making it to Q2 for the first time this season. They carried their strong form from the practice sessions into qualifying and secured the fifth and sixth positions respectively. This achievement highlights their determination and the progress they have made as a team.
Unfortunately, Gresini’s Alex Marquez’s qualifying session took a drastic turn when he crashed at the end of Q1. As a result of the crash, Marquez was unable to participate in Q2. He was taken to the medical center for checks on his hand and ribs, which revealed fractures. The team later confirmed that Marquez would be transferred to the hospital for further evaluation. This setback is undoubtedly disappointing for Marquez and the team.
Bezzecchi started Q2 with a strong benchmark lap, setting the tone for the session. Despite facing tough competition from Martin, he continued to deliver excellent lap times, ultimately securing the first sub-1m44s lap of the weekend with a time of 1m43.947s. Bezzecchi’s impressive performance not only earned him the pole position but also solidified his status as a top contender in the championship.
Martin, who initially challenged Bezzecchi for pole, fell short with a time of 1m43.990s, landing him in second place on the grid. Bagnaia managed to put together a wild lap of 1m44.203s, securing the final spot on the front row. Luca Marini on the sister VR46 Ducati claimed the fourth position, followed by Mir and Marc Marquez.
In the midfield, Johann Zarco took seventh place on the sister Pramac Ducati, with Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo and the Aprilia duo of Maverick Vinales and Aleix Espargaro not far behind. RNF Aprilia’s Raul Fernandez performed well in Q1, securing the 11th position on the grid. However, Alex Marquez’s late crash in Q1 caused yellow flags, ultimately preventing Fabio Di Giannantonio from making it to Q2 by a mere 0.010s.
Both KTM’s Brad Binder and LCR Honda’s Takaaki Nakagami faced setbacks due to yellow flags. Binder, who was left in Q1 by yellow flags at the end of FP2, could only manage a 14th place finish. Nakagami, on the other hand, also struggled and landed in 15th place on the grid.
Franco Morbidelli secured the 17th position on his Yamaha, followed by Tech3’s Augusto Fernandez and RNF’s Miguel Oliveira. Tech3’s Pol Espargaro, Stefan Bradl from LCR, and Michele Pirro from Ducati completed the field.
Valentino Rossi’s team has showcased their dominance at the Buddh International Circuit, securing top positions throughout the sessions. Bezzecchi’s pole position, Bagnaia’s comeback, and the strong showing from the Honda duo have made this qualifying session an exciting one. However, setbacks for Alex Marquez, Brad Binder, and Takaaki Nakagami highlight the challenges faced by these riders. As we anticipate the race, it will be interesting to see if Rossi can maintain his momentum and secure a victory on race day.
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