MOTO GP

Pol Espargaró takes the lead tomorrow

Spaniard Pol Espargaró took pole this Saturday and will start first in the Styrian stage of MotoGP, the 900th race in the history of the main category of motorbike. The KTM driver had a time of 1min23s580 and was the fastest in qualifying.
Espargaró took the first pole of his MotoGP career, not only from him, but also from KTM. This Saturday, in the qualifying session at the Red Bull Ring circuit, in Austria, the Spanish rider flew to overcome the Japanese Takaaki Nakagami by just 0s022.
The third place went to Johann Zarco, who, however, was punished by the accident with Franco Morbidelli that almost involved Valentino Rossi in the last race, also in Austria, and will have to start from the pits. The Frenchman underwent surgery this week and was released by the medical team to compete.
Thus, Spaniard Joan Mir, from Suzuki, who recorded the time of 1min23s678, will start in the first row. Australian Jack Miller, from Pramac, will leave fourth place, followed by Spaniards Maverick Viñales, from Yamaha, in fifth, and Álex Rins, from Suzuki, in sixth place.
KTM Tech 3 pilot, Portuguese Miguel Oliveira will open the third row, in seventh place, just ahead of Italian Andrea Dovizioso, winner of the last race. Right behind is the Frenchman Fábio Quartararo, winner of the first two races in Spain and leader of the championship. Italian-Brazilian Franco Morbidelli completes the top 10.
Veteran Valentino Rossi did not have a good session. The Italian ended up failing to move to Q2 after falling on the penultimate corner on his last quick lap and was 15th. However, with the punishment to Zarco, he will start from the 14th position.
Current champion and main reference of MotoGP in recent years, Spaniard Marc Márquez remains out of the race, after another surgery on his right arm. The expectation is that he will return to the San Marino stage, in Misano, in September.

Autonews