Misano Adriatico (Italy) (AFP)
To be titled for the first time in MotoGP on Sunday, Quartararo must maintain after the race at least 50 steps ahead of Bagnaia, his last rival, knowing that he currently has a mattress of 52 units.
There will only be two races to go after this Grand Prix, each time winning 25 points.
Two other Ducati riders, Australian Jack Miller and Italian Luca Marini, will accompany Bagnaia to the front row on Sunday at 2 p.m. (12 p.m. GMT).
For beginner Marini, half-brother of local hero Valentino Rossi, this is the first qualification in the Top 3.
The second row, unusual due to the drying and tricky track conditions, goes to Spaniard Pol Espargaro (Honda), Portuguese Miguel Oliveira (KTM) and Italian Franco Morbidelli (Yamaha-SRT).
Falling in the second and final part of qualifying, Spaniard Marc Marquez (Honda) is 7th and Frenchman Johann Zarco (Ducati-Pramac), yet among the fastest in free practice, 10th.
Rossi (Yamaha-SRT), who is playing his last GP at home before his retirement at the end of the season, will be 23rd and penultimate on the starting grid.
© 2021 AFP