Catalunya MotoGP: Francesco Bagnaia back on top as he dethrones Aleix Espargaro in qualifying

Francesco Bagnaia spolis Aprilia's party after claiming pole position for the Catalan MotoGP ahead of Aleix Espargaro. 
Francesco Bagnaia, MotoGP, Catalunya MotoGP, 1 September
Francesco Bagnaia, MotoGP, Catalunya MotoGP, 1 September

Headlining a star-studded list of riders alongside Marc Marquez and Jack Miller, Fabio Quartararo found immediate pace as he bꩲroke into the 1m 39s barrier.

The Yamaha rider then saw his lap time beaten by Marquez before Miguel Olivei🔜ra went top.

Quartararo th⭕en saw his qualifying session turn into a nightmare after crashing at turn one.

The 2021 world 𓄧champion ran off circuit and went down whilst trying to remain upright in the gravel.

With Quartararo picking up his M1, teammate Franco Morbidelli replaced him inside the top two after seꩵtting a time of 1:39.581s.

With Jack Miller just ahead of him, Marquez produced a stunni💦ng lap at the🙈 beginning of his final run as he went quickest.

However, the eight-time world champion wa🦂s then moved down to second as Oliv▨eira broke into the 1m 38s barrier. Oliveira’s brilliant lap was just shy of the all-time lap record.

With n🀅o one able to challenge the top times, Oliveira and Marquez chose not to remain on tr🐎ack for the closing stages as they advanced to Q2.

Starting the session with a used soft rear tyre, Marquez was first to cross the line in Q2 with a mid 1m 40s, however that was immediately 𝔍beaten by a full second as Jorge Martin went quickest.

But right on cue the two factory Aprilias continued their stunning turn of pace as Aleix Espargaro went quickest ahead of Ma🍸verick Vinales. 

Brad Binder then split the two Aprilia riders on his second lap, while it was Vinales who was now the rider on prꦡovisional pole after setting a time of 1:39.099s.

As 🃏he did in Q1, Marquez chose his next victim f💙or a tow as he positoned himself behind world champion Bagnaia. 

But the Honda rider had no answer to the pace being shown by Bagnaia, as the Ducati ride♌r set a new lap record.

Bagnaia came close to setting a new lap record on 𝕴his next ef🐽fort as he led the remaining three Aprilias.

Espargaro ✤was the only rider able to c🍒hallenge Bagnaia as the checkered flag came out, however, the 34-year-old was unable to overhaul the championship leader.

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