MotoGP: Martin secures pole position at Mandalika – Road Racing World Magazine

MotoGP Comb Qual

Further, from Dorna’s press release:

Martin reigned, Marquez fell twice with Mandalika’s impressive performance

The championship leader led Bezecic and Acosta in qualifying in Lombok, setting the stage for two impressive performances.

Saturday, September 28, 2024

George Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) starts from a new lap record pole set at the Pertamina Grand Prix in Indonesia. on top of. Marco Bezecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) pulled himself right out of his own drama last time on the grid, with the front row completed by rookie Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GAASGAS Tech3).

Ducati Lenovo Team’s Francesco Bagnaia and Enea Bastianini dropped to the second row in P4 and P5, the latter after a crash, but a big comeback is needed for Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) if he wants to earn some respect after the lights out. OUT: Two crashes in Q2 saw the eight-time world champion out of time limits and P12 on the grid…

Q1

There was a lot of drama in Q1 alone. A crash for Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) cut short his overtaking mission, and one for Aleix Márquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) to lose a chance to improve late on. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) had an issue that forced him back to the box without needing time and by the end of the race Yohan Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) was buying the time sheet from Raul Fernandez. (Track House Racing) When both are moving.

Q2

Almost all of the drama was Marc Marquez who ran behind Martin for the first time but didn’t finish the first lap. As they progressed, #93 crashed at turn 15, the rider running to the box to get on his second bike, OK. Martin lapped it up, meanwhile, before improving again to beat that impressive lap record.

Then came more drama. Bastiani slipped out, trying to save at turn 16 with low speed and a leg in the air, although at least he managed to get back straight to the pitlane unscathed. The second race got off to a flying start with six minutes to go which put Martin Zarcon and Bezecic in the lead, eight tenths clear of the championship leader and no laps behind many of his key rivals.

Then, more drama with a few minutes left on the clock, and it struck again for Marc Marquez. This time the #93 slid behind Bagnaia at Turn 10, the rider OK once again but forced to leave the bike there. That was it, P12 on the grid with no set laps – and bringing out the yellow flags again.

Meanwhile, Acosta was second ahead of Bagnaia and Bastiani, but Martin’s gap was half a second. Bezecchi then crashed at the end of the lap and brought out several yellow flags. However, he was able to bounce back and this will be crucial.

Martin rolled through another lap, so did Bastiani, and in the end it all came down to Bezecchi’s final push to decide the front line. He wasn’t old enough to compete for the bat, but there was still a lot to offer between the gap between the first and second big targets. He crossed the line to make good on that and took P2 on the grid, with Acosta dropping to third, but beating both Bagnaia and Bastianini.

Grid

Behind Martin, Bezecchi and Acosta, Bagnaia and Bastianini in P4 and P5, with Fabio Quattararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) completing the front row as his great run continued.

Zarco’s performance is strong as he leads row 3 with Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team). Franco Morbidelli (Prima Prama Racing) had a much stronger session at the office to finish P9, despite his highest FP2. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) and Raul Fernandez slot in next, with the #93 leading the Q2 runners-up in P12 and should start Saturday and Sunday.

After that amazing performance, what to expect after the lights go out? Indonesia served up an emotional rollercoaster in 2023, and the stage is set for another this season. Today at 15:00, the first phase of the ongoing Tissot Sprint will be revealed!