MotoGP News: Bagnaia on pole for finale, Martin 4th in Barcelona

Italian Factory Ducati MotoGP rider Francesco Bagnaia claimed a crucial pole position for the MotoGP finale in Barcelona, while championship leader Jorge Martin could only qualify fourth.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

But it may not be enough.

With the Valencia finale moved to Barcelona due to flooding in Valencia, Bagnaia set a time of 1m38.641s on his final flying lap around the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Q2, which was enough to beat track Aleix Espargaro by 0.055s.

In third place was Marc Marquez on the year old Gresini Ducati, the six-time champion taking advantage of a slipstream from Bagnaia to take the outside front row starting spot.

Championship leader Martin could do no better than fourth on the Pramac Ducati, two tenths off Bagnaia’s lap, but a 24-point lead in the championship means he can still theoretically wrap up the title in Saturday’s sprint race.

Martin, World Champion after the Tissot Sprint Race if…

– He wins
– He finishes P2 and Bagnaia doesn’t win
– He finishes P3 and Bagnaia doesn’t finish better than P5
– He finishes P4 and Bagnaia doesn’t finish better than P6
– He finishes P5 and Bagnaia doesn’t finish better than P7
– He finishes P6 and Bagnaia doesn’t finish better than P8
– He finishes P7 and Bagnaia doesn’t finish better than P9
– He finishes P8 and Bagnaia fails to score any points.

MotoGP Barcelona Qualifying Results

* Rookie