Marc Marquez, in line with his ups and downs for eighteen months and his broken right arm, got a new scare with an impressive fall.

The six-time world champion then announced a new operation next week of this same arm, decided on Friday with his Honda team, which should mark the end of his season.

Italian Fabio Di Giannantonio (Ducati-Gresini), 23, took the second pole of his career, the first in MotoGP, for his first year in the premier class, at the end of the second part of qualifying (Q2) on the Mugello circuit.

Q2 that he was able to play after being drafted by achieving the best time of the first part (Q1).

"It's incredible, getting my first pole here in Mugello, in front of all the fans, it's just fantastic", he exclaimed, confirming the nice start to the season for the Gresini team after the three victories of Enea Bastanini (only tenth in qualifying on Saturday).

Valentino Rossi acclaimed

Perhaps inspired by the young retiree Valentino Rossi, acclaimed by the supporters at midday for the official retirement of the N.46, the favorite number of the nine-time Italian world champion, the two pilots of his Ducati-VR46 team, his half-brother Luca Marini (3rd) and Marco Bezzecchi (2nd) also shone by completing the front row.

The young retiree, the Italian Valentino Rossi, nine-time MotoGP world champion, acclaimed by the tifosi, on May 28, 2022 on the Mugello circuit during qualifying for the MotoGP Italian Grand Prix Filippo MONTEFORTE AFP

Quartararo (Yamaha), not at best during free practice on Friday and Saturday morning, limited the damage by setting the sixth fastest time in the second qualifying session (Q2), contested under very threatening skies and a few drops of rain.

Drivers and their teams have long been perplexed as clouds gather over Mugello, although the storm eventually avoids the track and descends onto the verdant Tuscan hills surrounding the circuit.

"For me it was unacceptable to make us leave in these conditions. If we have to go, I'm going, no problem. But for me, it was really dangerous to let us go without knowing the exact conditions. in the turns, on a track like Mugello where you drive at 340, 350 or even 360 km / h", cursed Quartararo, winner on this track last year.

Frenchman Fabio Quartararo, riding his Yamaha, during the 3rd practice session of the MotoGP Italian Grand Prix, May 28, 2022 on the Mugello circuit Filippo MONTEFORTE AFP

Espargaro does not confirm

The other Frenchman Johann Zarco (4th on Ducati-Pramac) will also start from the second row on Sunday, alongside the Italian Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati), allowing the Italian team to take the first five places on the starting grid. of this eighth round of the MotoGP World Championship.

"4th place is a good place to have a good race," commented Zarco.

The Spaniard Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia), second in the World Championship just four points behind Quartararo, did not confirm his good sessions during free practice, relegated to the third row (7th).

Spaniard Aleix Espargaro, riding his Aprilia, during the 3rd practice session of the MotoGP Italian Grand Prix, May 28, 2022 on the Mugello circuit Filippo MONTEFORTE AFP

His compatriot Marc Marquez, well behind in the first three free practice sessions (21st), also had to go through a draft in Q1 to participate in the second part with the best.

But, perhaps scalded by his early fall on a slightly wet track in a few places and his sore arm, the six-time world champion did not fight for the top places: he will start on Sunday (2:00 p.m.) in the fourth row (11th) for what will likely be his last race in 2022.

© 2022 AFP