2022 Silverstone MotoGP Qualifying Result: No Dinosaurs Were Harmed In The Making Of This Pole

By Zara Daniela | Sat, 06/08/2022 - 14:22

The premier class returned fast and fresh from their long summer break and put on a quickfire show to open the second half of the season. While all eyes were on Aleix Espargaro’s fitness as he got back on track following the nasty high-side in FP4, it was the Pramac Racing duo keeping top spot warm throughout the session. After some early tentative laps, Espargaro was suddenly on course for pole on his second outing, posting the first 1:57 time on a MotoGP bike around Silverstone – but as impressive as that was, the Spaniard found himself down in sixth position in the blink of an eye, with the timing screens covered in red. The honour to claiming the new all-time lap record eventually went to Johann Zarco, despite the Frenchman being short on winglets compared to some of his Ducati colleagues. Almost as impressive was Maverick Viñales, who secured his first front row start for Aprilia, while Jack Miller put the Desmosaurus into third place on the grid, a tenth and a half off pole.

Fabio Quartararo had to settle for fourth, the world championship leader particularly grumpy as he faces the prospect of the long lap penalty losing him even more ground on Sunday. It won’t be helped by having Pecco Bagnaia breathing down his neck from fifth on the grid, with Espargaro filling the second row despite concussion to both ankles. Marco Bezzecchi was KTM’s number one enemy in Q1, as he demoted both their riders to steal a Q2 place away and then climbed as high as seventh on the grid, sharing third row with Q1 leader Enea Bastianini and early Q2 pacesetter Jorge Martin.

Luca Marini completed the top ten, half a second off pole and sharing fourth row with the rather anonymous Suzukis of Alex Rins and Joan Mir. The KTMs and Hondas were left out in the cold of Q1, with Miguel Oliveira leading Brad Binder on the fifth row, and Alex Marquez the top Honda in the middle of sixth row, after a light tumble.

Results:

Pos No. Rider Bike Time Diff Prev
1 5 Johann Zarco Ducati 1:57.767    
2 12 Maverick Viñales Aprilia 1:57.865 0.098 0.098
3 43 Jack Miller Ducati 1:57.931 0.164 0.066
4 20 Fabio Quartararo Yamaha 1:57.938 0.171 0.007
5 63 Francesco Bagnaia Ducati 1:57.961 0.194 0.023
6 41 Aleix Espargaro Aprilia 1:57.966 0.199 0.005
7 72 Marco Bezzecchi Ducati 1:58.101 0.334 0.135
8 23 Enea Bastianini Ducati 1:58.106 0.339 0.005
9 89 Jorge Martin Ducati 1:58.174 0.407 0.068
10 10 Luca Marini Ducati 1:58.317 0.550 0.143
11 42 Alex Rins Suzuki 1:58.318 0.551 0.001
12 36 Joan Mir Suzuki 1:58.543 0.776 0.225
    Q1 Results:        
Q2 23 Enea Bastianini Ducati 1:58.609    
Q2 72 Marco Bezzecchi Ducati 1:58.756 0.147 0.147
13 88 Miguel Oliveira KTM 1:58.853 0.244 0.097
14 33 Brad Binder KTM 1:58.932 0.323 0.079
15 49 Fabio Di Giannantonio Ducati 1:58.948 0.339 0.016
16 87 Remy Gardner KTM 1:59.120 0.511 0.172
17 73 Alex Marquez Honda 1:59.288 0.679 0.168
18 6 Stefan Bradl Honda 1:59.339 0.730 0.051
19 44 Pol Espargaro Honda 1:59.367 0.758 0.028
20 21 Franco Morbidelli Yamaha 1:59.390 0.781 0.023
21 30 Takaaki Nakagami Honda 1:59.614 1.005 0.224
22 25 Raul Fernandez KTM 1:59.920 1.311 0.306
23 40 Darryn Binder Yamaha 1:59.931 1.322 0.011
24 4 Andrea Dovizioso Yamaha 2:00.232 1.623 0.301
2022
12
MotoGP
Silverstone, Great Britain
↑Back to top

Comments

Dinosaur deaths are essential, even for those who like slow as molasses moto-e. Head in the sand and "net negative" here we come. Someone will certify wre compliant right? Michelin solves their front problem with the new "low particulate emissions" version? Rumor has it tires will be banned in all EU countries by 2035. Looking forward to hoverGP qualifying with haste!

Célébrer Johann Zarco! Tres bon. Another pole but still no MotoGp win.

Congratulations to Remy Gardner! Beat all the Hondas on a KTM that couldn't get into Q2.

His feet will feel worse in the morning. See what the physio and docs can do. Might get him through the race ok. Both ankles taped up. Changes of direction, maggots/becketts, vale, abbey/farm, village/loop, brooklands/luffield. I can see him doing a good race, heroic effort. Can't see him producing the same as he has been. Full race distance, top 10 would be amazing. Better than that, top 5 ? That would be one for the books. As for longer term, I guess they'll scan the living daylights out of him and who knows...not I...no idea how badly he is hurt. One decent indicator is the Acosta. Ok that was femur, big deal but Spanish docs say yes, motogp docs say no. If they will let Aleix ride, then longer term I guess is ok.

Fast and nasty high-side, fortunately don't see them too often any more. I imagine with pain-killer injections he'll try to ride, but I'm with his boss Rivola ... it's not worth taking a chance on a permanent problem for one race (see MM, for example). I don't imagine having his wife and kids there makes things any easier! I imagine he'll make the call after the morning warm-up; he seems like a smart enough guy to be reasonable. Hope so, anyway.

There's one big problem with that. He's 33. This is the first year he's been in this position, might very well be the last. As each race goes by he has looked more and more determined. On this occasion I think if it is not good to ride, only the Docs can stop him.

I suspect Aleix's ankles have contusions rather than concussions. But if it was possible he might have had both with that awful smash. I hope he can make it through the race to salvage some points. I bet he's never been gladder of Fabio's shortlong lap penalty! So much podium potential amongst the top 10, it's bound to be a ripper of a race!