2021 Austin MotoGP Qualifying Result: Reversal Of Fortune

Submitted by Zara Daniela on

It wasn’t just the asphalt that was sizzling in Texas, it was also the fight for pole position in the premier class and for a while it looked like the Sheriff was back in town, with Marc Marquez keeping provisional pole warm after the first run in Q2. The Honda man was looser than ever around his favourite lumpy playground but eventually had to concede his pole record and allow Pecco Bagnaia to score a very impressive third consecutive pole position. The championship battle should be just as fiery, as Fabio Quartararo will be starting closely behind his title rival, the Frenchman three tenths off pole and eight hundredths of a second quicker than Marquez, who was happy enough with his first front row of the season.

The Pramac Ducati machines of Jorge Martin and Johann Zarco sandwich the LCR Honda of Takaaki Nakagami on the second row of the grid, leaving the Suzukis to populate third row. While Alex Rins had an easier mission after going straight to Q2, teammate Joan Mir had to fight through a competitive Q1 session and came out second best to Luca Marini. The rookie might have started the day with a crash at turn 2 but ended it ninth on the grid, with a helpful reference from the friendly poleman on his way there.

If there was joy in one side of the Ducati garage, there was a face like thunder in the other one, where Jack Miller failed to replicate the excellent speed he showed in practice and ended up 10th on the grid and almost a second slower than his teammate. Brad Binder and Pol Espargaro will keep him company on row four, while the returning Italian duo of Franco Morbidelli and Andrea Dovizioso open row five ahead of Alex Marquez, with Enea Bastianini 16th and overshadowed by his teammate this time around. The unluckiest victims of Q1 proved to be Miguel Oliveira, Aleix Espargaro and Valentino Rossi, all three riders adding a crash to their tally and ending up 18th, 19th and 20th on the grid.

Results:

Pos No. Rider Bike Time Diff Prev
1 63 Francesco Bagnaia Ducati 2'02.781    
2 20 Fabio Quartararo Yamaha 2'03.129 0.348 0.348
3 93 Marc Marquez Honda 2'03.209 0.428 0.080
4 89 Jorge Martin Ducati 2'03.278 0.497 0.069
5 30 Takaaki Nakagami Honda 2'03.292 0.511 0.014
6 5 Johann Zarco Ducati 2'03.379 0.598 0.087
7 42 Alex Rins Suzuki 2'03.453 0.672 0.074
8 36 Joan Mir Suzuki 2'03.528 0.747 0.075
9 10 Luca Marini Ducati 2'03.546 0.765 0.018
10 43 Jack Miller Ducati 2'03.720 0.939 0.174
11 33 Brad Binder KTM 2'03.781 1.000 0.061
12 44 Pol Espargaro Honda 2'03.875 1.094 0.094
    Q1 Results:        
Q2 10 Luca Marini Ducati 2'03.410    
Q2 36 Joan Mir Suzuki 2'03.540 0.130 0.130
13 21 Franco Morbidelli Yamaha 2'03.872 0.462 0.332
14 4 Andrea Dovizioso Yamaha 2'04.044 0.634 0.172
15 73 Alex Marquez Honda 2'04.100 0.690 0.056
16 23 Enea Bastianini Ducati 2'04.118 0.708 0.018
17 27 Iker Lecuona KTM 2'04.324 0.914 0.206
18 88 Miguel Oliveira KTM 2'04.392 0.982 0.068
19 41 Aleix Espargaro Aprilia 2'04.419 1.009 0.027
20 46 Valentino Rossi Yamaha 2'04.699 1.289 0.280
21 9 Danilo Petrucci KTM 2'04.829 1.419 0.130
Round Number: 
15
2021
MotoGP
Austin, Texas
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Comments

Motoshrink replied on
Site Supporter

Pecco and Fabio!

We have a race on our hands. Jack will be there tomorrow over race distance. Morbidelli is coming good. The Black bike could go here- sorry to see Aleix struggling, he is NOT liking the track. Not counting Martin out either, the kid has the goods.

Looming fwd to this race more than usual at this track. And, in support of the riders pushing hard at Safety Commission for full repave before riding here again. It will be fun to watch, but I would NOT want to race here. Locally we had a track w super under safe run off (cool newer track, literally had shite like junk metal rubbish laying around and big troughs) where racers refused until cleaned up. It worked.

I think Pecco's pole is a big deal and harbinger. He has arrived, and will be in my 2022 top 3. See you tomorrow!

ivanhoe replied on
Site Supporter

Yes Pecco will be in mine too next year 'shrink. What a pleasure that young man is!

And we have a rather good problem on our hands should manus do a proper job in winter, because who else for top 3 2022? Mir, Fabio, Frankie, Marc, Jorge? Too many to choose from!

But let's not get ahead of ourselves, quite a few more fun races to watch in this year's heated championship laugh

 

Hope everyone stays safe and healthy throughout this event, riders and public. Take care now.

nsaban replied on
Site Supporter

I was in the stands at T15 today.  In the final run of Q2, Marquez, Miller and a couple of other riders nearly came to a stop at that turn.  It looked like Marquez was looking for a tow from Miller or something.  That slowdown cost Miller another flying lap because he missed beating the checkered flag by a few seconds.

Anyway, tomorrow will be a lot of fun! 

Cloverleaf replied on
Site Supporter

He's mine, I saw him first ;) Not that I'm pitching for 2022 yet. But I'll be applying similar criteria to this year, which means if there's a Marquez in my list, it won't be initial M. 

 

 

ivanhoe replied on
Site Supporter

...and sorry to have doubted you and him!

So you don't think that Honda will pull one out of the bag (finally)? What about Suzuki's new engine? We can take some pointers from you the way your 2021 predictions are shaping up ;)