Alcañiz (Spain) (AFP)

Marc Marquez will start in pole position on Sunday for the Aragon MotoGP after advancing to the Fabio Quartararo qualifying, both men pursuing their mano mano started at the previous Misano race.

Marquez and his Honda advanced with a time of 1 min 47 sec 009/1000 Quartararo and his Yamaha of 327/1000 the third being Maverick Vinales, also on Yamaha at 463/1000.

The five-time Spanish world champion, who is well ahead of the MotoGP championship this year, did not, however, break his own record of the Motorland of Aragon track set in 2015 in 1m 46s 635s. Already victorious four times on this circuit , including the last three editions, he took a good option on a 5th win on Sunday.

"The pace was good, but the Yamaha drivers are fast, it's true that I had a better time in the first free practice session, but sometimes you have to be careful sometimes," Marquez said. .

He will have to rely on the French "rookie" Fabio Quartararo, with whom he fought for most of the race a week ago before styling him on the line.

"Frankly, I did not think I would make such a time, but I was at the limit everywhere and I thought, + either I fall, or I'm on the first line + and I arrived," said Quartararo.

Note that Pol Espargaro (KTM) fell Saturday morning during the 4th free practice session and fractured a wrist which will result in his package for the race Sunday which will start at 13:00 (11:00 GMT).

As a result, Mika Kallio, the only KTM factory rider, replaced him from the weekend and for the rest of the season, Frenchman Johann Zarco was fired by the Austrian team.

According to KTM "it is yet to be decided whether or not surgery will be necessary" for Pol Espargaro, whose participation in the next GP of Thailand could be called into question in this case.

Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati), currently second in the championship with 93 points of Marquez while there are 6 races to race, could not do better than the 10th time while his teammate Danilo Petrucci (3rd in the championship) is only 15th. The best Ducati is that of the Pramac satellite team of Jack Miller in 4th position.

To note the good performance of Aleix Espargaro, the brother of Pol, on his Aprilia which realized the 5th time.

Alex Rins (Suzuki), fourth in the championship, for his part completely missed his qualifications and could not even participate in the Q2, seeing himself suddenly relegated to 13th position.

© 2019 AFP