The cards are already distributed for the final assault on the MotoGP crown in Cheste. Pecco Bagnaia and Fabio Quartararo risk the throne in a duel of 27 laps, with the Italian from Ducati in eighth starting position and the Frenchman from Yamaha in fourth on the grid. The pole went to Jorge Martín, who will seek his first victory of the year, oblivious to the fight between the Italian and the French.
From 4th and 8th places, discreetly, they will seek their goals: Pecco, not to lose the title he has on track, with 23 points of rent, since he only needs to add 2 more (a 14th place), and the Devil, try a miracle: win and wait for your opponent to take a maximum of one point (15th or worse). Worse things have been seen in the final duel.
The tension was chewed in the garages of Ducati and Yamaha. The Italians are chasing their first title since 2007, the one won by Casey Stoner. And Bagnaia, taking over from Valentino Rossi as the first transalpine to be crowned since 2009. Quartararo sought to calm anxiety and stress with meditation before going out on the track.
In practice, throughout the weekend, there was a slight superiority for Quartararo, ahead of his rival in the four sessions: he led FP1 and took 6 tenths off Pecco; in FP2 they were 8th and 9th; in FP3, 4th and 7th with 1 tenth of separation for the Devil; and in FP4, 2nd and 11th, with 3 tenths for the Frenchman.
In the qualifying session, Jorge Martín dominated with an iron hand to score his fifth pole position of the year, the third consecutive, touching the record of the Valencian track. The man from Madrid seeks to close the course with his first victory, which would automatically deprive Quartararo of the title, since he only wants to win.
Martin had no rival. Marc Márquez was the closest to him, second, with Jack Miller, another Ducati, third. Fabio Quartararo, who went off on the last lap, finished fourth, and Bagnaia, cautious and conservative, did not go beyond seventh. Enough position to keep a close eye on the Devil and push if he needs to. Although, yes, fully involved in the middle of the peloton at the start, a risky situation.
“It was a good lap, I didn't expect to drop the time so much. In the race I would like to be on the podium, I will try, I know I have to fight, I am not the fastest on the track, but I will try to fight it", commented Marc Márquez, who wants to close the half course of his return by returning to the box, something that he has not achieved for a year, in Misano, at the Emilia Romagna GP (October 24, 2021).
1.Jorge Martin (Ducati)
2.Marc Marquez (Honda)
3.Jack Miller (Ducati)
4.Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha)
5. Álex Rins (Suzuki)
6.Maverick Viñales (Aprilia)
7.Darryn Binder (KTM)
8.Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati)
9. Johann Zarco (Ducati)
10.Aleix Espargaró (Aprilia)
11.Luca Marini (Ducati)
12.Joan Mir (Suzuki)
13. Enea Bastianini (Ducati)
14. Miguel Oliveira (KTM)
15. Alex Marquez (Honda)
16. Franco Morbidelli (Yamaha)
17. Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha)
18. Marco Bezzecchi (Ducati)
19. Fabio di Giannantonio (Ducati)
20. Remy Gardner (KTM)
21. Takaaki Nakagami (Honda)
22. Pol Espargaro (Honda)
23. Raul Fernandez (KTM)
24. Darryn Binder (Yamaha)
