Pecco Bagnaia continues to impose his rule as MotoGP champion and leader. The Italian from Ducati, without standing out too much in practice, took pole position for the Sunday race (2:00 p.m.) and for this Saturday's Sprint (3:00 p.m.), snatching the privilege of first position from Aleix Espargaró. The Aprilia rider had been the fastest in Friday's tests and is running for victory at home. For only 104 thousandths, the Italian deprived him of his sixth pole position, which would have been the second in a row in Montmeló.
"My objective here is to fight for victory, this year we have to be ahead; it's not that I have a thorn from last year, it's over, it was a mistake that is a thing of the past", commented Aleix Espargaró on the eve, eager to turn the page and begin to lay the foundations for a victory assault on Sunday.
He was the fastest on Friday in the two tests, and in the qualifying session he opted for pole position. In fact, he managed to caress her with a 1m38s752, but Oliveira and then Bagnaia surpassed him. In his last lap, Aleix could not improve much (only 9 thousandths) and was 0.104 behind the best time of Pecco, who signed his sixth pole position in 11 Grand Prix.
The first starting line is completed by the Portuguese Miguel Oliveira, winner in Montmeló in 2021, who is performing very well with his RNF satellite Aprilia (next Sito Pons team).
Maverick Viñales, Jorge Martín, second in the World Cup, and Johan Zarco were on the second starting line. Behind them, Àlex Márquez (7th), Di Giannantonio and Brad Binder (3rd in the World Cup).
Marc Márquez, who had managed to pass from the Q1 play-offs to the 12 chosen to play for pole position, finished last, but will start on Sunday 11th due to the sanction imposed by Enea Bastianini (for hindering Pol Espargaró). Likewise, the Gas Gas rider will gain one position, from 14th to 13th.
