Jack Miller (Ducati) is the eighth MotoGP poleman in 14 races. The Australian made the power of the Borgo Panigale machines also evident at the Misano circuit, where they will once again put the leader Fabio Quartararo, eighth from the start, on the ropes, just ahead of Aleix Espargaró.
Miller had not achieved a pole position since the 2018 Argentine GP. He had to wait to see himself outside of Ducati (he will go to KTM) and for the sky to leave water to find his most suitable habitat to shine.
With the track in changing conditions, wet from the rain and drying up, and with the bikes wearing slicks, unusual riders to be in front like Oliveira and Morbidelli began to set the tone, but the adventure did not last long.
Miller, an accomplished wet specialist, went on the attack to claim provisional pole with 6 minutes remaining in the session. His Italian Ducati colleagues followed suit, with Bastianini and Bezzecchi looking for home glory. Bagnaia and Zarco joined the Ducati party, four ahead, with Quartararo fifth with two minutes to go.
The leader of the World Cup appeared, who did not want to lose the passage of Bagnaia, his main threat. Aleix Espargaró, his pursuer, was far behind, 11th.
In the last two minutes the session was revolutionized: Zarco took command with 1m32s201, Viñales jumped to second place, Bagnaia third; Miller raised his bet with 1m31s899s to recover the pole, which nobody took from him, Bagnaia will start fifth due to a penalty (losing three places) for “irresponsible” driving during the first test of the GP.
Second will be Bastianini, followed by Bezzecchi, Viñales and Zarco. Quartararo finished eighth, and Aleix Espargaró improved to ninth place.
In his last qualifying session after 21 seasons in the World Championship, Andrea Dovizioso finished a discreet 18th place on the grid. In Misano he will contest his last race with the satellite Yamaha RNF team. His position will leave Cal Crutchlow at Motorland.
