(Reuters) – Pramac Racing’s Jorge Martin secured pole position for the MotoGP season-opening Qatar Grand Prix by breaking the lap record at the Lusail International Circuit on Saturday. Martin’s impressive time of 1:50.789 placed him ahead of Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro and Ducati’s Enea Bastianini on the front row, just 0.086 seconds behind Martin, the 2023 championship runner-up.
Expressing his joy, Martin stated, “I’m the fastest in one lap, another pole is super nice. I’m happy, but the important job is later (in the sprint) and tomorrow.” Red Bull KTM’s Brad Binder secured the fourth-fastest time, followed by Ducati’s defending champion Francesco Bagnaia and six-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez, who switched to Gresini Racing for the 2024 season.
Defending Qatar Grand Prix winner Fabio Di Giannantonio from VR46 Racing finished in seventh place, while 19-year-old newcomer Pedro Acosta impressed by securing eighth place in his first MotoGP qualifying session. The first sprint of the season was scheduled to take place later on Saturday.
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
