Marco Bezzecchi secured a surprise pole position for the San Marino Grand Prix, overtaking Alex Marquez in a dramatic final lap at the Misano circuit. This achievement marks another key milestone in Bezzecchi’s 2025 season as he narrowly edged out the competition to put his Aprilia on the front row for Sunday’s race, while championship leader Marc Marquez qualified in fourth place.
Late Qualifying Drama Sees Bezzecchi Claim Top Spot
In the intense Q2 qualifying session, Alex Marquez initially set the pace, establishing a provisional pole time of 1m30.222s during his first attempt. Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo responded with a strong effort, closing the gap to within a tenth of Marquez’s benchmark by posting 1m30.318s early in the second run.
However, Bezzecchi then executed a last-minute lightning-quick lap, boosted by a tow from his teammate Jorge Martin, which allowed him to set a time of 1m30.134s. This effort placed him just 0.088 seconds ahead of Alex Marquez, sealing his third pole of the season after previous successes in Britain and Austria.
Despite his strong credentials this year, Marc Marquez, who leads the championship standings, could not improve enough on his final lap. He rose from seventh in the provisional times to finish fourth on the grid with a 1m30.352s lap, marking an uncharacteristic qualifying session for the factory Ducati rider.
Front Row Shaped by Rising and Established Stars
The front row was rounded out by Fabio Quartararo, who made a remarkable climb from Q1 to secure third on the grid. Behind Marquez, the VR46 team’s Franco Morbidelli qualified fifth, with Fabio di Giannantonio in seventh, separated by another Honda contender, Luca Marini, in sixth place.
Other notable qualifiers included Francesco Bagnaia in eighth on the second works Ducati, while young star Pedro Acosta encountered difficulties, crashing on his final run and settling for ninth. Completing the top ten was Fermin Aldeguer for Gresini Racing.
Positioning Further Back on the Grid
Jorge Martin, despite helping teammate Bezzecchi secure pole with his tow, managed only the 11th fastest time, trailing by over eight tenths of a second. Joan Mir, Marini’s teammate, chose to skip qualifying after reporting neck pain from a Friday crash, but his direct Q2 entry places him 12th for the race, contingent on his ability to compete.
Pramac’s Miguel Oliveira missed advancing to Q2 by mere fractions, settling 13th ahead of Trackhouse teammates Raul Fernandez and Ai Ogura, who posted identical lap times. Augusto Fernandez qualified 22nd on his V4 Yamaha M1, just ahead of LCR’s Somkiat Chantra, although his lap was slower than Friday practice times.
Implications for the San Marino Grand Prix
Bezzecchi’s pole position not only reinforces his strong form this season but also signals a potential challenge for the championship frontrunners at a pivotal home race. His ability to capitalize on team support and execute under pressure highlights Aprilia’s growing competitiveness.
Marc Marquez’s position outside the front row may add complexity to the championship fight as he seeks to defend his points lead. Meanwhile, riders like Quartararo and Morbidelli will look to leverage their strong starting positions to gain ground on race day.
The grid, featuring a blend of established stars and rising talents, sets the stage for an intriguing race under the lights of Misano as the 2025 campaign progresses toward its concluding rounds.
