Marc Marquez secured his 100th grand prix pole position during the qualifying session at the Italian MotoGP held at Mugello, narrowly surpassing Francesco Bagnaia and Alex Marquez in Q2. His pole-winning lap time of 1:44.169 not only earned him the top spot but also shattered the previous lap record by nearly 0.4 seconds, a benchmark set last year by Jorge Martin.
Marquez achieved this landmark with a lap completed solo, without the advantage of a slipstream, providing a sense of personal accomplishment for the Ducati Lenovo Team rider.
Especially super-happy because it was a real pole position, it was without the slipstream, alone, and just trying to find my limits,
Marc Marquez said in his post-qualifying parc ferme interview on the international TV feed.
He added that it was a solid lap on a circuit where both Pecco [Francesco Bagnaia] and Alex [Marquez] typically have the edge in speed. He acknowledged the strong pace even in free practice sessions and highlighted the importance of patience given the warm afternoon temperatures, which could alter conditions for the Sprint and main race.
But, be patient because in the afternoon with the warm temperatures can change everything. At the moment, we are there, and ready to fight for the Sprint and main race.
Francesco Bagnaia Reflects on His Best Qualifying Run of the Season
Finishing second, Francesco Bagnaia achieved his best qualifying result of the season so far, though he admitted that he had aimed to secure the pole position himself. The Mugello circuit continues to hold a special place for him, and he expressed his enthusiasm for the track as well as his efforts during qualifying.
Mugello is magic and something incredible,
Bagnaia said.
He explained that he pushed to the limit during qualifying, fully aware of Marc Marquez’s exceptional form, making it tough to claim pole. Despite this, securing a front-row start was crucial, marking an important step forward for the Ducati rider‘s season. He also noted that the team made positive adjustments during the morning session.
I think this morning we found something that was helping, so let’s see.
Alex Marquez Describes the Challenges of a Single-Lap Qualifying Effort at Mugello
Although less prominent throughout the weekend, Alex Marquez demonstrated promising speed on Friday, indicating his potential to contend in both the Sprint and the main race. The Gresini Racing Ducati rider spoke about the difficulty of perfecting a single qualifying lap on Mugello’s demanding track, which features a continuous rhythm of turns.
It was hard, was on the limit,
Marquez reflected.
He praised the efforts of Marc and Pecco in securing the front positions and emphasized that the race pace looks strong for the conditions expected, which include high temperatures affecting tire management. He highlighted the importance of extracting consistent performance from the rear tire throughout the race.
We will see the rear tyre, and from that try to extract always the potential and try to be constant as we did always.
The Implications of Marquez’s Pole Position for the Italian GP Weekend
Marc Marquez’s achievement of his 100th grand prix pole position at Mugello not only marks a personal milestone but also establishes a new benchmark in MotoGP qualifying history with his record lap time. This accomplishment reflects both his skill and the competitiveness of the Ducati Lenovo Team. With the race weekend progressing and temperatures rising, riders like Marquez, Bagnaia, and Alex Marquez will need to balance speed with tire management.
The strong qualifying performances from these riders suggest a highly competitive Sprint and main race ahead. Fans can expect intense battles on the challenging Mugello circuit, where strategic decisions and consistent lap times will play critical roles in the race outcome.
