The Catalan, currently second in the world championship, was faster than the Italian Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) and Quartararo (Yamaha).

Only eight points currently separate Espargaro from the Frenchman in the championship.

Since the start of the weekend and the first free practice, the native of Granollers, a town located a few kilometers from the circuit, has been flying above the competition.

The child of the country even offered the track record – first during the third free practice session on Saturday morning, before improving it in qualifying.

Under temperatures exceeding 30 degrees in the air and 55 degrees on the track, "the conditions were super difficult", admitted the poleman.

French Yamaha rider Fabio Quartararo delighted to take 3rd place on the grid of the Catalan Motorcycle GP, June 4, 2022 in Montmelo LLUIS GENE AFP

To clinch the first position and sign the new record as a bonus, "I did a completely crazy lap, sliding everywhere and in reality I didn't really enjoy this lap, I was at the limit in each corner", he explained.

- Zarco 4th and confident –

At 32, the Spaniard signs the fourth pole of his career – his second this season.

Last April, during the 3rd round of the year in Argentina, he had already achieved pole position before offering himself the victory of the GP -- the first victory of his career in all categories - and taking for a time the championship commands.

It also gave Aprilia the first victory in its history in MotoGP.

A solid contender for the title that the reigning world champion Quartararo had not seen coming: "I did not expect that at all, it surprises me because he had only made two podiums in his career," he told AFP at the end of May.

This season, the Spaniard is on a good dynamic, especially since the return of MotoGP to Europe, with five podiums in a row (Argentina, then Portugal, Spain, France and Italy).

Johann Zarco riding his Ducati during testing for the Catalan GP on the Montmeló circuit, June 4, 2022 LLUIS GENE AFP

Behind the leading riders in Catalan lands, the second line - 100% Ducati - returned on Saturday to the second Frenchman in the paddock Johann Zarco (Ducati-Pramac), 4th, ahead of the Italian Fabio Di Giannantonio (Ducati-Gresini), and the other Ducati Pramac rider, Spaniard Jorge Martin.

For the race, "I think I can have the rhythm (...) the sensations were good", welcomed Zarco, second in the event last season.

Faced with the high level of competition in front of him, "it will be important to be powerful from the start to immediately take the advantage", assured the 31-year-old from Cannes, who can count on French supporters, many in Catalonia.

Bastianini far behind

The Italian Enea Bastianini (Ducati-Gresini), current third in the championship, signs the bad operation of the day and will only start from 14th place on Sunday.

The Portuguese Miguel Oliveira (KTM), who won last year on the track, will start from 16th position.

Absent in Catalonia, the six-time world champion in the category, the Spaniard Marc Marquez (Honda), operated this week for the fourth time on his right arm after a fall in 2020, is out for an indefinite period.

He could miss the rest of the season.

The Italian Enea Bastianini at the Italian Enea Bastianini rides the handlebars of his Ducati-Gresini during the Catalan GP tests in Montmeló, June 4, 2022 LLUIS GENE AFP

He was replaced by the German Stefan Bradl, who will start from 21st place on Sunday.

Another Marquez from the paddock, Alex, his brother, was unable to compete in qualifying after a violent fall at the start of the afternoon during the fourth – and final – free practice session.

The Honda-LCR team driver was taken to the medical center and for the moment, no information has been confirmed regarding his presence at the start of the race on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

© 2022 AFP