Catalunya MotoGP, Barcelona - Full Qualifying Results

* Rookie

Fastest Practice time:
Aleix Espargaro SPA Aprilia 1m 38.771s

Official Barcelona MotoGP records:
Best lap:
Aleix Espargaro SPA Aprilia 1m 38.771s (2022)
Fastest race lap:
Johann Zarco FRA Ducati 1m 39.939s (2021)

Aleix Espargaro celebrates a home pole position for the 2022 Catalunya MotoGP at a scorching hot, and slippery, Barcelona.

The Aprilia rider will be joined on Sunday's front row by Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) and Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha).

Reigning champion Quartararo and Bagnaia took the fight to Espargaro, heading the Aprilia rider by the mid-session tyre change, when the top five were covered by just 0.090s.

Bagnaia then delivered the first sub 1m 39s lap of the afternoon to snatch pole with two minutes remaining.

But, fastest since Friday afternoon and having set a new lap record on Saturday morning, Espargaro responded with another new lap record to edge just 0.045s ahead of the Ducati rider.

Johann Zarco, rookie Fabio di Giannantonio and Jorge Martin will form an all-Desmosedici second row, ahead of Suzuki's Alex Rins.

Maverick Vinales, who joined Takaaki Nakagami in fighting through Qualifying 1, tucked in behind team-mate Espargaro for his final run but couldn't climb higher than eighth.

Alex Marquez did not take part in qualifying following his fast accident in FP4, with LCR team boss Lucio Cecchinello suggesting he suffered a 'small concussion', which would put his home race in doubt.

Marc Marquez is absent after electing to undergo a fourth operation on his right arm. The eight-time world champion is being replaced by HRC test rider Stefan Bradl.

According to Marquez’s team-mate Pol Espargaro, the new chassis and swingarm Marquez had been trying has now been handed to LCR’s Takaaki Nakagami.

Reigning world champion Fabio Quartararo returns to the scene of his 2021 ‘wardrobe malfunction’ with a new two-year Yamaha contract in his pocket and leading the MotoGP standings by eight points over Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro.

Enea Bastianini has slipped 28 points from the top after falling in Italy, with last Sunday’s home winner Francesco Bagnaia up to fourth but still 41 points behind Quartararo.

An official post-race test will be held at the Barcelona circuit on Monday.

Jorge Martin will miss the test and undergo surgery to treat nerve problems in his right hand.

2022 Catalunya Grand Prix – MotoGP schedule (UK Time):

Friday June 3

08:55-09:40 Free Practice 1 

13:10-13:55 Free Practice 2 

 

Saturday June 4

08:55-09:40 Free Practice 3 

12:30-13:00 Free Practice 4 

13:10-13:25 Qualifying 1 

13:35-13:50 Qualifying 2 

 

Sunday June 5

08:40-09:00 Warm-up 

13:00 Race