Aleix Espargaró wants to be a prophet in his land and is on his way to being one. The driver from Granollers, just three kilometers from the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Montmeló, laid the foundations to achieve his first victory at home with a stratospheric pole, with the absolute record of the Vallesan track. He beat Pecco Bagnaia, second, by only 31 thousandths, and Fabio Quartararo by 217, his great rivals for victory this Sunday (2:00 p.m.).
The oldest of the Espargarós is the favorite to win the Catalunya GP, having dominated three of the four free practices, having set pole and having set the Montmeló record twice. Aleix is in a sweet moment, "the best of my career" -he commented in an interview with La Vanguardia.
It exudes confidence, security and ambition. He wants to become the sixth prophet in Catalonia, after Crivillé, Checa, Pedrosa, Lorenzo and Marc Márquez, the great absentee this year due to his right humerus operation. And, above all, give his daughter Mia the best birthday present, for her 4 years: dad's first victory in his home grand prix, and, if possible, the leadership of MotoGP.
Very disputed was the ninth qualifying session of the year, with up to four different provisional polls in the first part. Viñales opened fire, Bagnaia replied, Martín joined the party and Quartararo established the first time to beat, in 1m39s055.
But the most significant thing was that up to five riders were compressed in less than a tenth, from Quartararo to Rins (at 0.090s), with Bagnaia, Aleix Espargaró, Martín and the Suzuki rider with pole options. They would play it in the last four minutes wearing the new softer compounds.
The first to raise the bet was Bagnaia, with a 1m38s787 which was a new pole record in Montmeló. He lowered the best time of the Frenchman from Yamaha by 268 thousandths.
But the provisional pole did not last long for the Ducati Italian. Aleix Espargaró, very plugged in, lowered his best time by 45 thousandths to smash the record for the best lap given at the Circuit, which he himself had improved in the morning in FP3.
“It has been very difficult, more than it seems. After dominating practice he seemed forced to take pole position. It was the most complicated lap this year in qualifying, the temperature was very high. In all the curves the direction was closed to me, it was necessary to go playing with the limit. Those three are stratospheric times”, commented Aleix Espargaró, enjoying his fourth pole of his MotoGP career, the second of the year. The previous one, in Argentina, led to his first victory.
In his last attempt at the best lap, Bagnaia arrived on pole time, but in the second sector he lost time and was only 31 thousandths behind the Vallesan. "I was wrong in T2", admitted the Italian will start second, ahead of Quartararo. "I have a good option to fight with Aleix and with Fabio", he commented.
Maverick Viñales arrived from the Q1 play-off with his Aprilia and Takaaki Nakagami's Honda. Two Ducatis that made noise at Mugello like Bezzecchi and Bastianini did not make the cut.
1. Aleix Espargaró (Aprilia)
2. Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati)
3. Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha)
4. Johann Zarco (Ducati)
5. Fabio de Giannantonio (Ducati)
6. Jorge Martin (Ducati)
7. Álex Rins (Suzuki)
8. Maverick Vinales (Aprilia)
10. Pol Espargaró (Honda)
11. Jack Miller (Ducati)
12. Takaaki Nakagami (Honda)
13. Marco Bezzecchi (Ducati)
14. Enea Bastianini (Ducati)
15. Brad Binder (KTM)
16. Miguel Oliveira (KTM)
17.Joan Mir (Suzuki)
18. Franco Morbidelli (Yamaha)
19. Andrea Dovizioso (Yamaha)
20. Remy Gardner (KTM)
21. Stefan Bradl (Honda)
22. Michele Pirro (Ducati)
Darryn Binder (KTM)
24. Raúl Fernández (KTM)
25. Àlex Márquez (Honda)
