News 20 Oct 2018

Dovizioso on pole at Motegi as Miller claims front row start

Strong qualifying result for Queenslander in Japanese grand prix.

Image: Supplied.

Ducati Team’s Andrea Dovizioso will start Sunday’s Motul Grand Prix of Japan from pole position, as Jack Miller (Alma Pramac Racing Ducati) took third after a fantastic Q2 session.

The Italian set a 1m44.590s, enough to ensure he launches from his third premier class Motegi pole. This time beat second-place Johann Zarco’s (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) best effort by 0.068s, with Miller producing a stunning lap to grab a front row start in third.

However, Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) had to settle for a P6 starting position, setting himself up for a risky opening few laps if he’s to take his seventh world title in Motegi by finishing ahead of Dovizioso.

It was Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) who sat on provisional pole after the riders put in their first set of lap times, the Briton nearly two-tenths clear of the field, but his stranglehold at the top wouldn’t last long. Marquez shot to the top of the time-sheets to set a new benchmark time of 1m44.889s – a time that would be beaten.

From out of nowhere, Miller then took over at the summit with Crutchlow shortly following the Australian over the line – P2 for the Honda rider was the best he could do as Miller crashed at turn five shortly after. The action though was far from over as Dovizioso put his Desmosedici in P1 by 0.137s.

Then, lighting up the timing screens was a certain Frenchman who was out to grab a first pole position since Le Mans. Zarco though, like he had done all weekend, couldn’t quite hold his advantage in the final sector, however second for the Yamaha rider still a very strong result.

Meanwhile, just as we thought the grid had been decided, Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) laid down the rubber to put in a personal best lap good enough for fifth. This, potentially crucial for Dovizioso, pushed Marquez down to the outside of the second row to set up a what could be a barnstorming first lap of the race.

Maverick Vinales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) will launch from seventh, two and a half tenths back from Marquez, with Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) completing row three. Q1 graduate Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Team) rounds out the top 10 on board his Ducati.

Moto2 qualifying saw championship leader Francesco Bagnaia (Sky Racing Team VR46) take his sixth pole position of the season by 0.165s over second place Fabio Quartararo (MB Conveyors – Speed Up), with Iker Lecuona (Swiss Innovative Investors) lining up on the front row for the first time in his career. Remy Gardner (Tech3 Racing) starts P13.

Gabriel Rodrigo (RBA BOE Skull Rider) will start Sunday’s Moto3 race from pole position after a stellar qualifying session, a 1m56.894 enough to beat second-place John McPhee (CIP – Green Power) by 0.075s with title contender Marco Bezzecchi (Redox PruestelGP) joining the duo on the front row in third.

Detailed results

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