MotoGP Doha QP: Jorge Martin takes pole in a Pramac 1-2

April 3, 2021 EMR Writer

In just his second ever race in MotoGP, Jorge Martin takes pole position!

Stunning, just stunning, genuinely a little lost for words writing this. It is shades of Marc Marquez back in 2013 when he took pole position in his second race, 8 years later we have seen history repeat itself with Jorge Martin firing his way to the top of the Q2 timesheets in a Pramac Ducati 1-2 to take his first-ever MotoGP class pole position with his teammate Johann Zarco in P2.

Ducati really know how to pick a rider, or four, four of their riders will start tomorrows race in the top 6 with their satellite riders occupying the first two places in qualifying as Jorge Martin takes a stunning pole position. It was drama throughout the session as we expect it to be with Martin consistently putting in lap times worthy of the top 3, it was late on in the session when we saw Zarco pinch pole position from Maverick Vinales completely unexpectedly before Jorge Martin came from absolutely nowhere blitzing the field to take the fastest lap of the weekend, very nearly breaking his way into the 1:52’s before outbraking himself running on in the first corner using up the Ducati power.

Maverick Vinales struggled quite a lot in the early stages of the session, shaking his head as he walked into his garage at the halfway mark, he spoke to his team, figured out a strategy before blasting his way into P1 before the Pramac Ducati’s came in and did their thing. It was an impressive top 6 with the Yamaha’s and Ducati’s locking out the top 6 places, Jack Miller leads the second row in P4 with his teammate Francesco Bagnaia joining him in P6 and Fabio Quartararo just between them, the factory boys being outclassed by the Pramac’s this time round in Qatar which is reminiscent of last year. As it has been proven time and time again though it’s not over until the fat lady sings, it is more likely to see the factory Ducati boys on the podium tomorrow but Zarco is eyeing up a race win.

Aleix Espargaro was the fastest man on the third row after setting various red sectors, interestingly he was also able to out drag the Suzuki’s on the straight hinting that Aprilia have found some more horses to keep up with Ducati and their outright domination in a straight line, Espargaro is joined by the Suzuki duo on row 3 after Mir made his way through Q1 which meant he had to do Q2 on a used tyre, it’s not all doom and gloom for the 2020 MotoGP champion though as he took P9 with Rins in P8.

Petronas SRT are having a tough old time, Franco Morbidelli has come to expect to be at the front so qualifying in P10 will be less than favourable for the 2020 runner up after he has faced many issues with his 2019 Yamaha M1, his teammate Valentino Rossi struggled in the session and qualified way down in P21, second to last place.

His half brother Marini has shown some of the talent he has been missing this year; he was demoted out of a Q2 spot by the skin of his teeth after an impressive and unexpected lap time put him in P2 in the Q1 session before Miguel Oliveira beat his time by a mere 0.008, great to see Marini improving on the Ducati after his initial struggles. Pol Espargaro is another rider struggling and will start tomorrows race from P15.

Q2 Results: