2018 Austria MotoGP Qualifying: Marquez Claims Pole (Red Bull Ring)

2018 Austria MotoGP Qualifying Results

For the fourth time this season, the reigning MotoGP Champion Marc Marquez has claimed pole position.

The 25-year-old Spaniard dominated Saturday’s two free-practice sessions at the Red Bull Ring in Austria, but didn’t run away with the top qualifying position.

The Repsol Honda RC213V pilot Marquez took the pole with 1:23.241, a mere 0.002 of a second ahead of last year’s winner. Ducati Team’s Andrea Dovozioso, and 0.135 seconds ahead of Marquez’s future teammate, Jorge Lorenzo.

This was Marquez’s 49th pole of his premier-class career. Due to the 0.002 of a second, this was the closest margin since Germany 2003.

“We’re on pole but it was all so very tight today,” Marc Marquez says. “The plan was to make three runs, but I was comfortable during my second exit and decided not to stop.”

“My last lap wasn’t perfect as I made a little mistake in the last corner and had to close the gas a little bit, but we got it anyway. I’ve felt good on the bike for the entire weekend, and today I was able to be fast during every practice, especially FP4, and that’s the most important thing.

“Anyway, we must keep pushing, keep working, and remain totally concentrated because Dovizioso and Lorenzo have a very good pace, consistent and fast. It looks like tomorrow will be dry and the warm-up will be crucial for choosing the best tire for the race;

“I’ve tested the soft and the medium, but it will be important to also understand the level of the rear hard spec. Of course I would like to win here and tomorrow I’ll start with that objective, but if it’s not possible, I’ll take points for the championship.”

Qualifying on top of row two was Alma Pramac Racing Ducati’s Danilo Petrucci, who finished 0.262 of a second behind. Petrucci, who joins Ducati Team in 2019, will be joined on row two by LCR Honda Castrol’s Cal Crutchlow (-0.135 of a second), and Monster Yamaha Tech3 Yamaha’s Johann Zarco (-0.646).

Reale Avintia Racing Ducati’s Tito Rabat qualified seventh after graduating from Qualifying 2.

Rounding out the top 12 were:

• Suzuki Ecstar’s Andrea Iannone
• Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa
• The other factory Suzuki GSX-RR pilot Alex Rins, who was the final rider to post within a second of Marquez
• Movistar Yamaha MotoGP’s Valentino Rossi
• Aprilia Team Gresini’s Aleix Espargaro

Round 11 of 19 in 2018 MotoGP begins is set to go green Sunday, August 12. For local TV times, visit 2018 MotoGP USA TV Schedule.

Photos by Luciano Bianchetto

2018 Austria MotoGP Qualifying Results from Red Bull Ring

Pos.	Rider	Manufacturer	Nationality	Time
1	Marc Marquez	Honda	ESP	01’23.241
2	Andrea Dovizioso	Ducati	ITA	01’23.243
3	Jorge Lorenzo	Ducati	ESP	01’23.376
4	Danilo Petrucci	Ducati	ITA	01’23.503
5	Cal Crutchlow	Honda	GBR	01’23.812
6	Johann Zarco	Yamaha	FRA	01’23.887
7	Tito Rabat	Honda	ESP	01’23.922
8	Andrea Iannone	Suzuki	ITA	01’24.091
9	Daniel Pedrosa	Honda	ESP	01’24.124
10	Alex Rins	Suzuki	ESP	01’24.227
11	Maverick Viñales	Yamaha	ESP	01’24.284
12	Alvaro Bautista	Ducati	ESP	01’24.342
13	Bradley Smith	KTM	GBR	01’24.245
14	Valentino Rossi	Yamaha	ITA	01’24.309
15	Aleix Espargaro	Aprilia	ESP	01’24.762
16	Franco Morbidelli	Honda	ITA	01’24.767
17	Jack Miller	Honda	AUS	01’24.805
18	Hafizh Syahrin	Yamaha	MYS	01’24.834
19	Xavier Simeon	Ducati	BEL	01’24.868
20	Scott Redding	Ducati	GBR	01’25.067
21	Takaaki Nakagami	Honda	JPN	01’25.178
22	Thomas Luthi	Honda	CHE	01’25.310
23	Karel Abraham	Ducati	CZE	01’25.339