statement from Marc Márquez as he Secures Pole Position in Aragon and shades Bagnaia and Acosta

 

Marc Márquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) delivered a masterclass in qualifying at the Gran Premio GoPro de Aragón, claiming pole position with a stunning lap time of 1:46.766. Márquez’s performance saw him finish a remarkable 0.840 seconds ahead of the field, marking the largest pole margin in dry conditions since the 2011 Valencia Grand Prix, where the gap was 1.014 seconds.

Joining Márquez on the front row is rookie sensation Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) in second place, and reigning MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) in third. Acosta’s P2 finish is particularly impressive, as he had to fight his way through Q1 before posting a blistering lap in Q2, while Bagnaia’s third-place start keeps him ahead of his main title rival, Jorge Martín.

**Dramatic Q1 and Early Q2 Action**

The day began with a thrilling Q1 session in tricky conditions, where the fight for the final two spots in Q2 came down to the wire. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and

Acosta emerged victorious, securing their places in Q2, while Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) was relegated to 14th on the grid after missing out.

As Q2 commenced, it didn’t take long for the drama to unfold. Jorge Martín (Prima Pramac Racing) crashed early at Turn 5, losing the front end within the first five minutes of the session. Despite the setback, Martín returned to the track later in the session, ultimately securing fourth place on the grid.

**Márquez’s Dominance and Final Flurry of Laps**

Márquez set the early pace in Q2, posting a 1:47.478 on his first run, which held up until the closing minutes. The Spaniard then improved further, breaking into the 1:46 bracket to solidify his pole position. Meanwhile, Acosta and Bagnaia both made late improvements, with the rookie securing his spot alongside Márquez on the front row.

**Martín Recovers to Fourth, Mixed Fortunes for Others**

Martín, despite his crash, managed to recover and secure fourth on the grid, ending the session 0.876 seconds behind Márquez. He will be joined on the second row by his brother, Álex Márquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), in fifth, and Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) in sixth, who had a moment while performing a practice start after the session.

Brad Binder will lead the third row after a strong Q1 performance, qualifying seventh with a time of 1:48.492. He will be flanked by Trackhouse Racing’s Miguel Oliveira and Raul Fernandez, both of whom have impressed throughout the weekend.

Further back, Aprilia Racing endured a tough session, with Aleix Espargaró and Maverick Viñales qualifying 11th and 12th, respectively. The fifth row will feature Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), Enea Bastianini, and Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), all of whom struggled to find their pace in Q2.

As the grid is set for Sunday’s race, all eyes will be on Márquez as he looks to convert his pole position into victory, while Bagnaia and Acosta aim to challenge the eight-time world champion and keep their championship hopes alive.