Spectacular. stratospheric. Awesome. Unreal… No more adjectives to qualify the performances of Marc Márquez, who has achieved his 92nd pole position of his career. The man from Lleida surpassed all times in an insurmountable last lap to beat I’m sorry Bagnaia, who had broken the track record and was already licking his lips seeing himself first on the grid. Márquez, who had warned of the problems his Honda is going through, who had problems throughout the weekend and who had to go through the play-offs, recovered and showed that the champions they are made of a different material, although to achieve this unexpected pole position he had to run after Bagnaia. In any case, it’s the first race of the year, we still have to evolve the bike and this first pole allows us to dream big. He will be accompanied in the front row by Pecco Bagnaia and Jorge Martín, the two Ducatis that have flown in Portimao during these two days. Oliveirta will start fourth and Jack Miller, fifth.
Marc Márquez set a spectacular lap in his first timed lap, with a time of 1’37.675 in Q1, which improved his previous record by 8 tenths. It was enough to get me through purgatory of that qualifying round and that allowed him to enter the fight for pole position or, at least, for a good position on the starting grid. The one from Cervera accompanied him Miguel Oliveira, who in a great last lap managed to secure the place ahead of Álex Márquez, who made a small mistake that took him away from the fight. Great teamwork from the two Hondas to try to cut tenths and try to make the cut, but Mir finally failed to get past fourth place. With time assured, Márquez has decided to reserve his new tires and take shelter in the box. In the end, Alex Márquez will start 13th, Joan Mir 14th, Alex Rins 16th, rookie Augusto Fernández 19th and Raúl Fernández 20th.
Marquez, restrained
Márquez was happy but restrained at the end of the session: «The day does not end here. The important thing is in the afternoon. I don’t know how I did it, juggling. I need a slipstream, someone in front. It is a skill that I have to take advantage of. It is not the most beautiful way to do it and when you have a strong point you have to take advantage of it. I searched for the limit going alone but then I got behind someone and you just have to close your eyes. We will see in the race because it is not our real position.
I was also satisfied Bagnaia: “I’m very happy. Going out on the front line is good and we’ll see later. It will be difficult. In the last lap I found riders who were slower and I couldn’t improve my time”, pointed out Pecco. The first line closes it Jorge Martin: «It has been a difficult classification for me. I almost fell, I managed to save the lap but the objective was to be on the front row. The race will be difficult.”
It must be remembered that this grid is valid for the sprint race this afternoon and also for tomorrow’s race. Twelve laps will be held this afternoon with half the points at stake, although only the first nine will be awarded. The winner will receive twelve points, the second nine and the third seven. The next six will receive six, five, four, three, two and one point respectively.
