MotoGP full qualifying results: Bezzecchi beats Marquez to record pole
Bezzecchi gave himself another reason to celebrate (Credit: Apex Agency)
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Connor Andrews is Formula 1 and MotoGP writer for GPblog and various outlets. Having worked in motorsport for 15 years for leading companies, he has interviewed the sports biggest names and attended multiple Grands Prix.
Marco Bezzecchi again stunned the Spanish crowd at Aragon by beating home favourite Marc Marquez to pole position.
The Aprilia rider set another track record with a 1'44.962, ahead of Marquez and younger brother Alex, the same top three as in Friday's timed practice.
The result comes as another huge surprise in the title race, with Bezzecchi previously sinking in the standings with a four-race pointless streak.
Marquez, meanwhile, had returned to winning ways and was back at a track where he’s often unbeatable.
There is a caveat, though - one of Marquez’s timed runs appeared to be interrupted by VR46 rider Franco Morbidelli, who caused the nine-time champion to sit up and abandon a late attack.
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Championship leader Jorge Martin could only muster fifth, behind the most recent race winner, Raul Fernandez, in fourth.
| Pos. | No. | Rider | Time/Gap |
| 1 | 72 | Marco Bezzecchi | 1:44.962 |
| 2 | 93 | Marc Marquez | +0.089 |
| 3 | 73 | Alex Marquez | +0.299 |
| 4 | 25 | Raul Fernandez | +0.413 |
| 5 | 89 | Jorge Martin | +0.474 |
| 6 | 37 | Pedro Acosta | +0.593 |
| 7 | 49 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | +0.653 |
| 8 | 63 | Francesco Bagnaia | +0.709 |
| 9 | 5 | Johann Zarco | +0.821 |
| 10 | 11 | Diogo Moreira | +0.840 |
| 11 | 54 | Fermin Aldeguer | +0.930 |
| 12 | 21 | Franco Morbidelli | +0.957 |
| ELIMINATED IN Q1 | |||
| 13 | 43 | Jack Miller | 1:45.959 |
| 14 | 33 | Brad Binder | 1:45.998 |
| 15 | 36 | Joan Mir | 1:46.026 |
| 16 | 23 | Enea Bastianini | 1:46.096 |
| 17 | 20 | Fabio Quartararo | 1:46.131 |
| 18 | 10 | Luca Marini | 1:46.211 |
| 19 | 42 | Alex Rins | 1:46.322 |
| 20 | 44 | Pol Espargaro | 1:46.384 |
| 21 | 7 | Toprak Razgatlioglu | 1:46.549 |
| 22 | 32 | Lorenzo Savadori | 1:47.388 |
There were impressive performances elsewhere, as Johann Zarco put his LCR Honda ninth upon his return from a six-race injury absence. Francesco Bagnaia also emerged from Q1 to climb up to eighth.
But Bezzecchi will undoubtedly be the story of the day, not just for topping the timesheets at a Marquez favourite, but doing so through injury.
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The Italian suffered a collarbone break and knee damage in Germany and is still struggling with the latter.
Speaking after topping Friday practice, he told MotoGP.com: "It was a positive day, I felt good since this morning and then in the sessions we worked well and I was able to make a step in terms of settings and riding.
"My riding still I have places to adjust, but I can't complain too much, it was a decent day, physically I'm still struggling with my knee.
"It's the biggest problem because here there is a lot on the left [left-handed corners], the left part of my body is struggling a bit, the shoulder is painful, but I can manage.
"The knee is more painful, so I'm a bit worried, it's going to be a long weekend, hopefully we can save the situation with the physio."
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