INDONESIA: In a breathtaking display of speed and precision, VR46 rider Luca Marini left the racing world in awe as he clinched his first-ever premier-class pole position at Mandalika. Breaking the elusive 1m30s barrier, Marini’s blistering lap of 1m29.978s in the final segment of qualifying set a new standard on the circuit.
The Aprilia duo of Maverick Vinales and Aleix Espargaro put up a fierce challenge, showcasing their formidable pace throughout the weekend. Vinales set a strong early marker in Q2 with a 1m30.598s, closely followed by Espargaro’s even quicker 1m30.501s.
However, Marini’s determination was unwavering. With just over two minutes remaining, he surged ahead of Vinales, claiming his historic pole position. Vinales, unable to surpass Marini’s time, settled for second place, while Espargaro secured a solid third position with a time of 1m30.132s.
Fabio Quartararo of the factory Yamaha claimed the best-of-the-rest spot in fourth, but trailed over half a second behind Marini’s astounding lap. Brad Binder on the fastest KTM followed, with a gap of two-tenths.
Jorge Martin of Pramac, hot on the heels of championship rival Bagnaia, faced a challenging session. A crash early on left him in seventh position, 0.764s behind the leader. His effort of 1m30.742s placed him on the outside of the second row.
In a surprising turn of events, Francesco Bagnaia, a strong contender, found himself starting from the 13th position due to a failure to progress in the second leg of qualifying. Bagnaia’s lap time of 1m30.626s on used tires initially positioned him second in the session, but he was edged out by teammate Enea Bastianinni.
As the anticipation builds for race day, the grid is set, promising a thrilling showdown at Mandalika. The stage is set for Marini to lead the pack from a historic pole position, while the competitors gear up for an intense battle on the track.
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