Moto GP – European GP – Qualifying

Three last races to go, the calendar goes for the last time at Spain for the 4th and last time for a double header at Circuit Ricardo Tormo. A week that started quite heavy on news as Yamaha bikes were involved on a investigation that costed them crucial points on the costructors championship and a crucial penalty for Viñales, who’s gonna start at the back of the grid on tomorrow’s race

The first Q1 session saw the return of Valentino Rossi, after he was absent for a couple of races due to Covid. meanwhile Oliveria, Alex Marquez and Bagnaia, Petrucci and Crutchlow were fighting for a place on the next session. It wouldn’t be easy, as the track was still wet after some precipitation some hours ago.

At the first stint it was Oliveira who was leading, closely followed by Stefan Bradl and Francesco Bagnaia. As Both Yamahas were struggling to find a pace at track, while others were looking for a dry line as the track was slowly getting dry. Meanwhile Oliveria still was on a good pace and leading ahead, battle for the 2nd spot was intense. While Crutchlow, Bradl and Marquez were looking for a Q2 place, at the end it was Johann Zarco who took 2nd place on his last attempt.

Q1 results:

13. Stefan Bradl /// 14. Alex Marquez /// 15. Maverick Viñales*
16. Cal Crutchlow /// 17. Francesco Bagnaia /// 18. Valentino Rossi
19. Danilo Petrucci /// 20. Lorenzo Savadori
(*) Starting from the back of the grid

Next Qualy session saw a quite unusual turn of events as the riders have a track that was changing from wet to a dry track conditions. As the first ones to take advantage of this situation, were the Suzuki bikes of Alex Rins and Joan Mir, who took front row spots on the first minutes of the session.

Meanwhile Takaaki Nakagami also have a strong momentum on track and went provisional pole, then Jack Miller entered the contencion, Oliveira was looking strong and even Johann Zarco had a strong lap after several attempts.

At the second stint, Franco Morbidelli started to look strong, but the Suzuki bikes countet with a provisional 1-2 for Rins and Mir. But another rider had the last word. As Pol Espargaro grab his 2nd career pole position with a phenomenal lap. As Alex Rins holds for a strong 2nd spot at the grid Taakaki Nakagami locks the front row, even with a incident included.

Q2 results:

1. Pol Espargaro /// 2. Álex Rins /// 3. Takaaki Nakagami
4. Johann Zarco /// 5. Joan Mir /// 6. Jack Miller
7. Aleix Espargaró /// 8. Miguel Oliveira /// 9. Franco Morbidelli
10. Brad Binder /// 11. Fabio Quartararo /// 12. Andrea Dovizioso

As the results says, Quartararo had a forgettable qualify and would need to hunt for a strong result, even worse for Viñales, starting from the back of the grid. Meanwhile Rins could work without big pressure as he’ll start tomorrow at 4th place. Still is hard tell what could happend tomorrow, even Rins and Morbidelli could add some late drama at the championship.