Risk reaps reward as Zarco steals late pole in pulsating Q2

With great risk often comes great reward is an adage all 12 MotoGP™ riders in Q2 were following as they tackled a patchy Algarve International Circuit with slick tyres. In a thrilling final 30 seconds that saw four riders provisionally sitting at the top of the pile, pole position, in the end, went the way of the final man to cross the line: experienced Frenchman Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing). The 31-year-old denied Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Joan Mir a debut MotoGP™ pole seconds after Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) had sneaked his way onto the front row.

It was no surprise that the early pacesetting was done by the Q1 graduates Alex Marquez (LCR Castrol Honda) and Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing), as the pair put their track knowledge to brilliant use. But as the other ten riders got up to speed, and the track dried out further, the pace began to heat up. Three minutes were left when Zarco hit the top for the first time, but he was displaced just 30 seconds later by factory Suzuki’s Mir.

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With the clock now ticking down to just 90 seconds and the final flying laps being lined up, Ducati Lenovo Team’s Jack Miller joined the party. The conditions were perfect for the Australian as he eyed a first pole position since Argentina 2018 in a similar situation. Then another man who these conditions usually suit went red through the first sector.

Repsol Honda’s Marc Marquez was flying and on course to take provisional pole at the most opportune moment before his teammate Pol Espargaro went down at the final corner bringing out the yellow flags. Marquez went fastest, with World Champion Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha) going second, but both laps were swiftly cancelled due to Espargaro’s off.

It meant Miller still held pole but he was usurped, with the chequered flag now out, by Mir as he cashed in on the yellow flags being rescinded at the final corner. The 2020 World Champion’s dreams of a career-first premier class pole were dashed within seconds with Zarco’s final flying lap of 1:42.003 good enough for a first pole since last year’s German Grand Prix. No sour grapes from Mir, though, due to second place being his best-ever result in a MotoGP™ qualifying session.

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Despite sitting pretty at the top of the timesheets with the chequered flag out, Miller didn’t even manage to hold on to a front row spot with Aleix Espargaro sneaking third whilst all eyes were on Zarco’s charge for pole. The Australian will be joined on row two of the grid by World Champion Fabio Quartararo, who recovered well from an early scare on a damp patch, and rookie Marco Bezzecchi, who put a big smile on the face of his trackside team owner Valentino Rossi.