Quartararo rocks Jerez with Q2 lap record

Marquez brothers dethroned as Yamaha bloodies Ducati noses in Spain with stunning late qualifying charge

Jerez qualifying lived up to its dramatic reputation once again, delivering blistering pace, tense family rivalries, and a sensational late pole position that sent shockwaves through the paddock. The Spanish heat set the stage, but it was the riders who set the track alight.

As Q2 got underway, Marc Marquez slotted in behind his brother Alex for the first flying lap, seeking to get a tow. As the sectors counted down, it became apparent that we were witnessing another Jerez special by the senior Marquez brother as he relentlessly reeled in Alex, who himself was setting some very impressive split times. Coming into the last corner, Marc was right on the Gresini Ducati’s back wheel, getting a perfect draft as the sibling rivals blasted across the line in formation, with the Factory Ducati rider blowing away Alex’s Friday lap record with a 1’35.643 stunner. Alex almost certainly knew his older brother was benefitting from the tow but never backed off, suggesting the Marquez boys could be working together more than championship rivals normally would. Morbidelli also displayed fearsome early pace, only a couple of tenths off the title contenders ahead.

Alex’s lap was still good enough for second, but he had his head down and was pushing hard again, just a tenth down through the second split. He lost time through the last two sectors, but was still comfortably in the 1’35s and in a secure second position… or so it seemed.

Bagnaia had only one bike to use in qualifying thanks to a big FP2 crash, so might have played it a little conservatively for his first timed run, but for his second run he went all chips in, lighting up the timing screens with red helmets as he pushed his Lenovo Ducati to the absolute limit. He crossed the line with a 1’35.755 lap to take second position, but behind him both Marc and Alex were on lap record pace themselves as they were cheered on by a manic home crowd. This time the older brother was giving the younger brother a tow, though in the end neither could improve upon their previous times.

It seemed the Ducati domination was set to continue, though an unlikely challenge was thrown down by Fermin Aldeguer as the rookie set the timing screens alight in front of the roaring Spanish fans. He would eventually lose out in the final sectors but was still able to dip into the 1’35s bracket, good enough for seventh on the grid. Viñales was also setting some hot split times in the dying minutes, but it was Quartararo who was really beginning to cook. Looking back to his absolute silky smooth best at a track at which he scored his maiden pole position back in 2019, Quartararo blitzed through the first three sectors with consecutive red helmets before losing out by mere hundredths of a second coming onto the straight, but he wasn’t done. In scenes reminiscent of his championship years when his one-lap pace was unstoppable, the Frenchman blitzed around Jerez’s technical and fast corners to set an incredible 1’35.610, lowering the lap record yet again and putting Yamaha in pole position for the first time since 2022.

Behind Quartararo, Marc Marquez’s early effort was enough for a strong second, just 0.033 seconds adrift. Bagnaia’s gritty performance yielded third, making it an all-star front row for Sunday’s showdown. Alex Marquez was fourth fastest, are rare sojourn off the front row for the Gresini rider.

Franco Morbidelli confirmed his solid pace across the weekend to slot into fifth, just two tenths off pole after an excellent session aboard his Ducati. Maverick Viñales put himself in the mix with a sixth-place effort, finding form late on his KTM to back up the pace he showed at Qatar. The highly impressive Fermin Aldeguer delighted home fans in securing a third row start, again the fastest rookie.

Fabio Di Giannantonio will start eighth, while Joan Mir salvaged a much-needed third row for Honda, for once able to pip Zarco in qualifying.

Acosta was once again outshone by his Spanish KTM compatriot, managing only 12th position. Miller will start from 14th, while fellow Yamaha rider Alex Rins will start his home round from the back of the pack after a heavy crash early in Q1.

With Quartararo roaring back to form and the Ducati heavyweights snapping at his heels, we could be set for yet another electric Spanish Grand Prix showdown.

Spanish MotoGP Qualifying