Doha (AFP)
Spaniard Jorge Martin (Ducati-Pramac), for his second weekend only in MotoGP, took pole position at the Doha Grand Prix, on the Losail circuit in Qatar, on Saturday.
"It's incredible. I didn't expect to be on pole, more like 4th or 5th," responded the 23-year-old driver.
"Tomorrow (Sunday) will be a new day to learn. It won't be my day to win. A Top 6 would be incredible," he said when he got off his bike.
At 8:00 p.m. local (7:00 p.m. French), the 2018 champion in the Moto3 category will share the front row of the second round of the season with his French teammate Johann Zarco, 2nd last week on the same track, and the Spaniard Maverick Vinales (Yamaha ), winner.
The Australian Jack Miller (Ducati) and the other Frenchman Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) complete the top 5 of qualifying.
Note a 6th place for last week's poleman, Italian Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati), ahead of Spaniards Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia), Alex Rins (Suzuki) and Joan Mir (Suzuki), the reigning champion.
The Italian Franco Morbidelli (Yamaha-SRT), in great difficulty last week (18th in the Qatar GP), is progressing and is ranked 10th in qualifying.
Things got worse, on the other hand, for his new Italian team-mate Valentino Rossi, sad 21st and penultimate.
As a reminder, the Spaniard Marc Marquez (Honda), who is still treating a fractured right arm suffered last summer, is forfeited at least for the first two races of 2021.
© 2021 AFP