Indonesian MotoGP: Fabio Quartararo claims pole, Marc Marquez crashes twice

For the second time in two days Fabio Quartararo set a new Mandalika MotoGP lap record as he became the first-ever pole sitter at the Indonesian circuit.
Fabio Quartararo, Indonesian MotoGP, 18 March 2022
Fabio Quartararo, Indonesian MotoGP, 18 March 2022
© Gold and Goose

 

Ma🍬rc Marquez crashed twice on a disastrous outing.

While Franco Morbidelli was busy picking himself up from the gravel following his opening lap fall at turn 5, team-mate Fabio Quartararo matched Francesco Bagnaia’s top time from Q✅1 to go four tenths clear of the Italian. 

 

 

 

 

Third afte𝓰r the initial set of time attacks was pole hound Jorge Martin, while Aleix Espargaro slotted into fourth. 

It had been a quiet weekend for the Aprilia rider꧂ until that point, but as is often the case in qualifying Espargaro was able to find serious pace. 

But then came a les💖s impressive moment for the Spaniard, as Espargaro crashed at turn⛎ 10 which meant yellow flags were deployed.

Moments before Espargaro’s crash, Quartararo set a new benchmark time of 1:31.067s🔴 which ended up being good enough for pole by two tenths.&nbs♔p;

Clinching a front row with their final efforts were Pramac Ducati rꦺiders Jorge Martin and Johann Zarco, while Brad Binder’s qualifying resurgeꦿnce for KTM continued with P4, ahead of championship leader Enea Bastianini and Bagnaia. 

Qualifying One

Following a delay to the start of qualifyin﷽g due to Alex Rins’ Suzuki catching fire in FP4 and t🌄hus bringing out a red flag, it was Marco Bezzecchi who immediately set the pace. 

The Mooney VR46 Ducati rider, who was second quickest in FP4,ไ set a time of 1:36.695s to lead from team-mate Luca Marini, however, Francesco Bagnaia 🉐then went 0.028s quicker on his second flying lap. 

Marc Marquez was the first rider to s🔯et a lap, but after failing to improve at the start of his second effort, the Repsol Honda rider returned to pit lane for a bike 𒆙swap, putting him out of sync with the rest of the field.

Things got considerably worse forꦡ Marquez at the start of his 🎃second run as he crashed at turn 13 - lost the front end as was the case during Friday’s FP2.

While that was happening, Bagnaia set a blinꦫdingly fast time of 1:31.219s to go four tenths clear of rookie Fabio Di Giannantonio. 

Marquez, who was immediately back on his feet following crash #1 of the day, rushed to the 🉐side of the track with the hope of getting back to pit lane. 

He did just. 

Marquez spent no time at all ღin his Honda box, instead choosing to head back out with immediate effect, begging the question could he have taken an extra breath and composed himself, as the 29 year-old flirted with disaster throughout his first ✃flying lap. 

As he started his final effort, Marquez was all over the back of T💛akaaki Nakagami as he almost ran into the rear of the LCR man on the exit of turn eight. 

M൩arquez th༒en lunged down the inside of the Japanese rider at turn 10, before sliding his way out of turn 11. 

While it lo🎀oked spectacular, it was an obvious sign of desperation as it set him up with a narrow entry to turn 12 before seeing the front wash out from underneath him.

Not for 💙the first time this weekend Marquez went barrel-rowing through the gravel. 

Both accidents saw Marquez 𓂃take a heavy fall on his right shoulder, the same shoulder he broke in 2020๊, but luckily he seemed to be unhurt as a release of frustration ensued.

A disastrous end to day-two☂ 🥃for the eight-time world champion, who had been on and well beyond the limit all session. 

There were late crashes for Bꦏezzecchi and Joan Mir, with the latter starting Sunday’s Grand Prix from P18.

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