2018 Brno MotoGP Qualifying Results
As qualifying began Saturday, all eyes were on Marc Marquez, who topped the fourth (final) free practice and is set to start his 100th MotoGP race Sunday.
But come qualifying, he was beat by two Italians – Movistar Yamaha MotoGP’s Valentino Rossi and the man who secured the pole, Ducati Team’s Andrea Dovizioso.
These top three riders were the only one to post within the 1:54 bracket. Ducati GP18 pilot Dovizioso, who won the opening round this season at Qatar, also posted a new fastest lap (fastest of 2018 sessions so far) at Qatar with a 1:54.689.
Rossi, who has three wins at Brno, finished 0.267 of a second behind Dovizioso. As for Marquez, Rossi topped last year’s winner by a mere 0.005 of a second.
“Until now it’s been an almost perfect weekend,” Dovizioso says. “We immediately started off quickly and this allowed us to work calmly for the race and arrive competitive in qualifying. More than the pole position, which is in any case important, I’m pleased with the time that we did.
“I didn’t expect to set this lap time, but when the others began to push hard I realized that my bike was so quick and I could push really hard as well. The Desmosedici responded well and I set an extraordinary time. For the race it’s not easy to understand who’s going to be in a good position, but my feeling is very good.”
Heading up row two is the other factory Ducati pilot, Jorge Lorenzo, who qualified ahead of LCR Honda’s Cal Crutchow – the 2016 winner at Brno – and Alma Pramac Racing Ducati’s Danilo Petrucci.
Rounding out the top 10 during 2018 Brno MotoGP Qualifying were Monster Yamaha Tech 3’s Johann Zarco; the Team Suzuki Ecstar duo of Andrea Iannone and Alex Rins; and 11-time Brno podium finisher Dani Pedrosa, who departs with Honda at the conclusion of 2018 MotoGP.
Heading into Sunday’s 21-lap MotoGP, the 25-year-old Marquez, who holds the pole record of 1:54.596 at Brno, enters the Czech Republic after a two-race winning streak (Assen, Sachsenring).
He has 165 points as he chases a fifth world title – 46 ahead of Rossi and 56 ahead of Movistar Yamaha MotoGP’s Maverick Vinales, who qualified 12th.
For more, visit our 2018 Brno MotoGP Preview.
For local USA TV times, visit 2018 MotoGP USA TV schedule.
Photos by Luciano Bianchetto
2018 Brno MotoGP Qualifying Results
Pos. | Rider | Manufacturer | Nationality | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Andrea Dovizioso | Ducati | ITA | 01’54.689 |
2 | Valentino Rossi | Yamaha | ITA | 01’54.956 |
3 | Marc Marquez | Honda | ESP | 01’54.961 |
4 | Jorge Lorenzo | Ducati | ESP | 01’55.038 |
5 | Cal Crutchlow | Honda | GBR | 01’55.055 |
6 | Danilo Petrucci | Ducati | ITA | 01’55.203 |
7 | Johann Zarco | Yamaha | FRA | 01’55.221 |
8 | Andrea Iannone | Suzuki | ITA | 01’55.270 |
9 | Alex Rins | Suzuki | ESP | 01’55.431 |
10 | Daniel Pedrosa | Honda | ESP | 01’55.474 |
11 | Tito Rabat | Honda | ESP | 01’55.686 |
12 | Maverick Viñales | Yamaha | ESP | 01’55.823 |
13 | Franco Morbidelli | Honda | ITA | 01’56.029 |
14 | Alvaro Bautista | Ducati | ESP | 01’56.031 |
15 | Bradley Smith | KTM | GBR | 01’56.218 |
16 | Hafizh Syahrin | Yamaha | MYS | 01’56.285 |
17 | Jack Miller | Honda | AUS | 01’56.316 |
18 | Stefan Bradl | Aprilia | DEU | 01’56.330 |
19 | Pol Espargaro | KTM | ESP | 01’56.353 |
20 | Takaaki Nakagami | Honda | JPN | 01’56.512 |
21 | Sylvain Guintoli | Kawasaki | FRA | 01’57.037 |
22 | Thomas Luthi | Honda | CHE | 01’57.208 |
23 | Karel Abraham | Ducati | CZE | 01’57.217 |
24 | Aleix Espargaro | Aprilia | ESP | 01’57.250 |
25 | Scott Redding | Ducati | GBR | 01’57.438 |
26 | Xavier Simeon | Ducati | BEL | 01’58.048 |