News 24 Sep 2017

Viñales on Aragon MotoGP pole as Rossi secures front row

Heroic Italian bounces back from broken leg in incredible result.

Source: Supplied.

Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) has taken pole position for the Aragon grand prix, exactly a tenth of a second ahead of Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team).

There was more headline news as Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) added another chapter to his incredible comeback, qualifying on the front row in third after missing only one event following his leg injury.

Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) was the man to lose out late on as he was pushed down to fourth, while reigning champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), despite a crash, will start in the middle of the second row, which is completed by teammate Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team).

Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) had a solid session to take seventh and will be looking to move forward and track championship rival Marquez, with Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) impressing in P8 at the venue where he took his first premier class podium. Alvaro Bautista (Pull&Bear Aspar Team) lines up ninth, with Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) taking P10.

Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) was 11th quickest after moving through Q1, with Mika Kallio (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) lining up in P12 as he wildcards and impresses once again. Jack Miller (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) missed out on Q2 by only thousandths and starts P13.

Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo) took his second Moto2 pole of the year at Aragon, just pushing Matta Pasini (Italtrans Racing Team) off the top spot despite a late cliffhanger as the Portuguese rider’s lap was cancelled and then subsequently re-instated.

That leaves Pasini second but once again showing incredible pace to take the front row, with last year’s podium finisher Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) completing it in P3 as he comes back from injury after missing Misano. Remy Gardner (Tech3 Racing) qualified 17th.

In Moto3, Jorge Martin (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) kept up his stunning pace from Saturday morning in qualifying, searing around MotorLand Aragon to take pole by over three tenths from Enea Bastianini (Estrella Galicia 0,0) and teammate Aron Canet.

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