Francesco🍬 Bagnaia narrowly missed out on a sixth consecutive MotoGP pole position after Jorge Martin bettered the Italian on his final Q2 ef🅠fort. 

With just three minutes lefꦗt of qualifying two, Bagnaia looked set for an eighth pole of the year after back-to-back f🧜astest laps.

The 2021 title runner-up went four tenths clear of team-mate Jack Miller and Martin who 𝔍had previously set identical lap times🗹 on the opening run.

However, a crash after push🅷ing too hard in turn two, along with Martin’s incredible first sector which saw him gain two tenths alone, was enough to halt the Italian rider’s epic pole streak - a streak which was also a Ducati record for one rider. 

Bagnaia, who is the form of his life, joked that 🍷no matter how well he’s riding, crashing at turn two in Valencia is a constant theme.

"The only thing that has remained compared to past years is that I continue crashing in turn two [Bagnaia laughs]. I know why, but I always crash in turn two,"&n🌞bsp;added Bagnaia in the post-qualifying press conference. 

"I feel great, but today 🍬the pole position was more deserving to Jorge [Martin]. He did an incredible first sector. 

"I’m happy because the FP4 was gꦆreat for us, also with used tyres. I think that we have a great possibility to make a great rওace tomorrow."

As highlighted by Bagnaia, the Iꩲtalian rider🅰’s used tyre performance is perhaps his biggest strength heading into Sunday’s race.

Bagnaia wasn’t necessarily faster than M♏iller, Martin or the Suzuki’s of Alex Rins and Joan Mir on any given lap during practice, however, it’s the consistent pace on ▨used tyres which looked stronger than most and could therefore see him take a fourth win of the year tomorrow. 

Bagnaia🍌 used the soft, medium and hard tyres throughout the da🌸y, while Miller and Martin focused more on the medium and hard in particular. 

Speaking about the tyre situation he𝐆ading into the final race of 2021, Bag꧅naia said Ducati’s strength in numbers (most bikes on the grid with six), is key to giving them more data to analyse.

"This is the luck of having more bikes on the grid. Everyone can try doing more laps with di🌄fferent tyres," said Bagnaia. 

"Jack [Miller] did a lot of laps with the hard and I tried ▨the soft. But I think the choice will be the same for all the grid - medium I think wജill be the tyre. 

"The soft one was not so bad an🌼d I’m thinking about it, but 💟for the medium I was very competitive. 

"It's been more than one week that we are working on that area with used tyres which has given me mu🌌ch more confidence."

Throughout today’s practice and qualifying, Bagnaia was seen giving mentor and soon-to-be retired Valentino Rossi aꩲ tow, a tow that propelled the ni🧸ne-time world champion directly into Q2, before going onto take a rare top ten.

But, Bagnaia alluded to this not being planned before track action began, even though﷽ it was the ‘minimum I could do’.

Bagnaia added: 🔜"No, no (wasn’t planned). But, I did see him enter on the track before me, so it’s the minimum that I can do for him. He gave so much over the years to 👍us so it’s the minimum I could do."