Fabio Quartararo shattered Ducati’s dominance by securing pole position during the Spanish Grand Prix’s qualifying on Saturday at Jerez. This marked a significant achievement not only for Quartararo but also for Yamaha, as it ended Ducati’s impressive run of pole positions in MotoGP. After a stunning performance in Friday’s practice, where he surprised even himself with his bike’s speed, Quartararo emerged as the unstoppable force on the track.
Quartararo’s pole is the first for a non-Ducati rider since Pedro Acosta‘s success at the Japanese Grand Prix last October. This breaking of Ducati’s grip hints at the possibility of one of their rivals stepping up in the upcoming races. Until now, Ducati has been a constant winner, with Maverick Vinales’ performance in last April’s Americas GP being the last race weekend where another team came out on top, and Aleix Espargaro’s victory in a sprint race at the Catalan Grand Prix marking the last non-Ducati win.
Alongside Quartararo on the front row of the grid was championship leader Marc Marquez, with Francesco Bagnaia completing the top three positions on his Ducati. The qualifying was a dry-weather battle that allowed riders to push their limits without interruptions. Marc Marquez initially set the pace with a record-breaking lap time of 1m35.643, but Quartararo responded impeccably during his second run, overtaking Marquez who couldn’t better his initial record on subsequent tries.
The competition was fierce, with Alex Marquez narrowly missing a front row start, trailing his brother Marc by just three-thousandths of a second. The Gresini Ducati rider, who had previously set a lap record during Friday’s practice, found himself starting from fourth position. Meanwhile, VR46 Ducati’s Franco Morbidelli overcame a high-speed crash during practice to secure a commendable fifth place start, sharing the second row with Vinales, who made his way into Q2 aboard the Tech3 KTM.
Behind them, rookie sensation Fermin Aldegeuer on another Gresini Ducati showed great promise, while Fabio di Giannantonio and Joan Mir prepared to lead Honda’s effort from the third row. Johann Zarco from LCR Honda completed the top ten, lining up beside Marco Bezzecchi and Pedro Acosta for the race.
The day’s drama extended back to Q1, which followed a tense Free Practice 2 session. Multiple riders, including Bagnaia, Morbidelli, Acosta, and Alex Rins, met with accidents that tested their resolve. Rins, in particular, faced a challenging time as his primary bike was deemed unfit after his crash, necessitating a quick visit to the medical center and a tight turnaround to make it onto the grid for his Q1 attempt. However, he couldn’t adjust quickly enough to his spare bike and will start from the back.
At the forefront of the Q1 battle, Vinales capitalized on his potential, smoothly advancing to Q2. Vinales’ performance was unrivaled in Q1, with Marco Bezzecchi being the only rider coming close, but still unable to best Vinales’ lap times.
The implications of Quartararo’s pole position are profound, potentially paving the way for non-Ducati teams to challenge the streak of victories Ducati has enjoyed. This performance energizes the competition, indicating a shift in dynamics as Quartararo prepares to capitalize on his pole position in the race. Fans and teams alike are eager to see whether this will be a turning point leading to more diverse podium placements and champion potentials.
As the MotoGP paddock anticipates further developments, Quartararo’s triumph demonstrates his skill and motivation, setting an exciting stage for the races ahead and promising intensified rivalries in the championship hunt. Quartararo’s goal will be to maintain this momentum, aiming to disrupt Ducati’s winning streak and carve out consistent successes for Yamaha.
