Misano Adriatico (Italy) (AFP)

Spaniard Maverick Vinales (Yamaha) will start from pole position for the Grand Prix of Emilia-Romagna in the MotoGP category on Sunday, alongside Australian Jack Miller (Ducati) and Frenchman Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha).

Like last week during qualifying for the San Marino GP, on the same Misano circuit, Vinales broke the absolute track record, with a time of 1: 31.077, after a thrilling session ended with 11 pilots out of 12 grouped together in half a second.

"I'm feeling really good for Sunday, I think we have improved the bike a lot since last Sunday. The team did a really good job, especially this morning, and we found good set-ups for the last corner", explained Vinales, very confident for the race on a circuit very favorable to Yamaha.

Miller had qualified in extremis for Q2 along with Andrea Dovizioso, Quartararo's main rival for the title.

Then he managed a superb Q2 also marked by a very good time from Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati-Pramac) immediately canceled for a passage out of bounds, in the last corner.

Quartararo, who lost the world championship lead last Sunday, will be on the front row again, while "Dovi", who now precedes him by seven points in the championship, will start much further on the grid, from 10th place. .

- KTM is better, hecatomb at Honda -

"It was my goal to start on the first row, so I'm satisfied. This week, I also worked on my starts", reacted Quartararo, penalized by a failed start then victim of two falls during the GP of Saint -Marine.

We will also have to keep an eye on the KTMs in the race, much more prominent this week.

Pol Espargaro, author of the 4th fastest time on Saturday, and Brad Binder, best time in free practice on Friday and 6th time in qualifying, will both be on the second row, alongside a Bagnaia blown up by his first MotoGP podium, last Sunday.

Six-time world champion and title holder, Spaniard Marc Marquez is still far from the circuits due to a fractured right arm suffered during the first event of the season.

To his prolonged absence this weekend is added that of his replacement, the German Stefan Bradl, who suffers from the right arm and withdrawn Friday.

As for Cal Crutchlow, the Honda-LCR team rider, his right arm also hurts and will therefore have missed the two race weekends at Misano.

For the second time this season, a small audience is admitted to the Misano circuit.

Most of the lucky winners will closely follow Valentino Rossi, 41.

"The Doctor" will start from 7th place on the grid, in 3rd row, and will aim for a 200th podium in the premier category.

He is capable of it.

© 2020 AFP