Brno (Czech Republic) (AFP)

"The best experience after difficult months": riding his modest Ducati-Avintia, Johann Zarco surprised by taking pole position in the Czech Republic motorcycle GP on Saturday ahead of his compatriot Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha-SRT), a first for France.

Poleman, winner of the first two rounds (out of 14) of the season and leader of MotoGP, Quartararo fell without gravity on his last launched lap, depriving himself of a final opportunity to take a third consecutive pole in 2020.

In the absence of the reigning world champion Marc Marquez, forfeit due to injury, "El Diablo" is nonetheless the man to beat and he is entering the race, which will start on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. (12:00 GMT). , calmly despite a frustrating start to the weekend.

"We made good progress in free practice 4," he explained at a press conference. "We know we have the pace to win so I'm happy to be here."

If for Quartararo "the first row was the objective", for Zarco, who is running his third GP with Ducati-Avintia, it was only a question of "better qualifying", by directly integrating Q2 during which the first ones are played. places on the grid.

- Zarco "happy as everything" -

"I did not expect to take the pole", he confirmed to Canal +, one of the few media attending this new event behind closed doors, due to the new coronavirus pandemic. "It's still a goal but, in this phase of progression ... I had good tests (fourth in FP1 and 2, second in FP3, editor's note). Above all, with a new tire, I was always able to do a good lap, but to the point of being first this afternoon ... it's fantastic! I'm happy like everything. "

This sixth pole in MotoGP, the first since 2018, comes after a complicated 2019 for Zarco, who separated from KTM in the middle of the season for lack of results.

In 2020, the 30-year-old rider regained a starting place in one of Ducati's satellite teams, Avintia, which had never before enjoyed the honors of pole. Its goal: to conquer a better bike next year at the Italian brand, which has free handlebars within the official team and at the other satellite, Pramac.

"I wondered if I was still in the rhythm and today it was the case, it's a great feeling," he said. But "counting on victory now is still a goal far too high, concedes the French. Even the podium is a very, very complicated goal because, in race pace, I think I still lack a few tenths for really control. "

"But the fact of starting in front will already be the best possible experience after several difficult months, he assures. A good result tomorrow (Sunday), staying in the five, it can be a good goal to set, but every thing in good time. Today, it is the + qualif + and we take advantage of that! "

- 200th podium for Rossi? -

Franco Morbidelli, Quartararo's Italian team-mate, will share the front row with the two French, ahead of three Spaniards, Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia), Maverick Vinales (Yamaha), runner-up to “Quarta” for ten points in the drivers' standings, and Pol Espargaro (KTM).

Also note the presence in tenth position of the Italian Valentino Rossi (Yamaha), who can conquer his 200th podium among the elite, after getting back on the box for the first time in fifteen months, two weeks ago in Spain. .

Big disappointment on the other hand for the Italian Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati), who will start only 18th. We expected better from the current third in the championship at 24 lengths, winner at the Czech circuit in Brno in 2018 and second in 2019.

Besides Marquez, reoperated for a fracture of the right humerus and replaced by the German Stefan Bradl, the Italian Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati-Pramac), who fell on Friday and suffered a fracture of the right tibia, is forfeited.

In Moto2, the American Joe Roberts (Kalex) signed his second pole of the season. In Moto3, Spaniard Raul Fernandez (KTM) deprived Japanese Tatsuki Suzuki (Honda) of a fourth consecutive leading position.

© 2020 AFP