Martin claims second ever MotoGP pole, track limits cost Quartararo

Jorge Martin secures a stunning pole position for the Styrian MotoGP - his second of the season, while Fabio Quartararo saw a time good enough for top spot deleted due to exceeding track limits at turn nine.
Jorge Martin, Styrian MotoGP, 6 August 2021
Jorge Martin, Styrian MotoGP, 6 August 2021
© Gold and Goose

Jorge Martin got the better of fellow Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia and championship leader Fabio Quartararo to claim pole position for the Styrian MotoGP. 

After the first few laps it was Quartararo who topped the leaderboard. The Yamaha rider’s time of 1:23.075s was under intense pressure from Martin who initially went second fastest. 

However, the Spaniard was relegated to third behind Jack Miller after having his best time deleted for exceeding track limits between turns 9 and 10. 

When the crucial last runs began, Bagnaia immediately went quicker than Quartararo to take provisional pole. 

But just seconds later, Bagnaia was knocked down to second by Martin, who’s supreme third and fourth sectors saw him claw back nearly two tenths. 

Pole position then looked to be heading the way of Quartararo, but just like Martin earlier in the session, the Frenchman’s time was deleted due to exceeding track limits at turn nine. 

Marc Marquez moved up to seventh on his penultimate lap, however, the eight-time world champion crashed at turn three after setting a red sector. 

Miller will start fourth ahead of Joan Mir who secured his best qualifying result of the season. The Suzuki rider perhaps benefited from having its new rear ride height device fitted. 

Zarco made it four Ducatis inside the top six, while Aleix Espargaro moved up to eighth just ahead of Marquez, Mavierck Vinales and Takaaki Nakagami in tenth.

After advancing through Q1, Miguel Oliveira decided to remain in pit lane for the start of Q2 - therefore completed just one soft tyre run as he finished 12th and last behind Alex Marquez. 

Qualifying 1

A fierce battle to get through Q1 saw Oliveira spend most of the session on top before rookie Enea Bastianini put in a time of 1:23.510s late on.

It was a time that knocked Alex Rins down to third - 13th overall for tomorrow’s race. The Suzuki rider had a red sector on his final lap, however, the Spaniard ran out of rear grip and was unable to improve.

Bastianini and Oliveira remained in the top two positions, while Aprilia’ Lorenzo Savadori suffered a crash on his final lap whilst 11th in the session.

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