Montmeló (Spain) (AFP)

For the fifth time in a row, the Frenchman Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) will start from pole position, Sunday in Catalonia, and appears "above" the lot according to his runner-up in the MotoGP championship, the other Frenchman Johann Zarco (Ducati-Pramac ), who will start 3rd on the front row.

He seems untouchable: still the fastest on Saturday, Quartararo is aiming for his fourth victory this season on Sunday.

By starting in the lead, he gave himself the means to further increase his already comfortable lead in the championship in the quest for his first world title at 22 years old.

Sunday at 13:00 local (11:00 GMT), the young motorcycle star, who has just signed his 15th pole in the elite, will be accompanied on the front row by the Australian Jack Miller (Ducati), 4th in the world championship at 31 points, and therefore the other Frenchman Zarco, 2nd in the world at 24 points.

"I am really satisfied, the pace was good even if my lap was not perfect, I could have further improved it during the fast second lap", reacted Quartararo, perfectionist, who regretted "the yellow flags" caused by the falls of Miller and Pol Espargaro (Honda) at the end of the session which slowed him down.

Even if he could not improve his time and take cover, Quartararo preserved the pole and "that is the most important", he smiled.

- French flags -

Once he got off his machine, Zarco came to congratulate him.

A scene that already recalls many others this season as the French are omnipresent.

But a scene that took place for the first time in front of many spectators.

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The Barcelona-Catalonia circuit can accommodate 20% of its total capacity this weekend, or 24,000 people per day at most, and many French people have crossed the border.

"It's incredible to see all these French flags, there are more than Spaniards so it's really nice, I thank them, it's good to find them", appreciated Quartararo at the microphone of Canal +.

Focused on his Sunday mission, Quartararo looked calm even though he warned: "A lot of the riders have a very good pace so we will focus on ours".

Faced with the powerful Ducati of Miller and Zarco (2nd at 24 points), he will have to get off to a good start.

And, as he has been doing since the start of the year, do not panic if he is doubled at the start.

Behind Quartararo, already winner last year in Catalonia, Zarco has the opportunity to preserve his second world rank and perhaps to aim for his first victory in the premier class.

The 30-year-old rider, who has just extended for 2022 with Ducati-Pramac, said he was "very happy" with his front row.

"But tomorrow it will be another story because Fabio is on top this weekend, he has an incredible pace and I think it will be difficult to fight with him. If we can be consistent enough to be on the podium. that would be nice, ”continued the two-time Moto2 world champion (2015; 2016).

Behind, Portuguese Miguel Oliveira (KTM), Italian Franco Morbidelli (Yamaha-SRT) and Spaniard Maverick Vinales (Yamaha) will be on the second row.

The other Ducati, that of Francesco Bagnaia, will be in 9th place.

The 24-year-old Italian, 3rd in the championship, is having a shy weekend after falling in Italy last week.

Spaniard Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia) will be 7th and South African Brad Binder (KTM) 8th on the starting grid.

Reigning world champion Joan Mir (Suzuki) will complete the top 10, ahead of Italian legend Valentino Rossi (Yamaha-SRT), 11th.

Spaniard Marc Marquez will only be 13th at the start.

The six-time MotoGP world champion has yet to regain his pace after his long months of absence due to injury.

In Moto2, the pole goes to the current leader, the Australian Remy Gardner, who will evolve next year in the elite with Tech3.

In Moto3, it is the Argentinian Gabriel Rodrigo who will take the lead, while he is only 10th in the general classification.

The 17-year-old leader Pedro Acosta will only start 25th.

© 2021 AFP