Martin leads all-Ducati front row at COTA

Jorge Martin led the first ever Ducati quintet in a stunning MotoGP qualifying, finishing top of the time sheets at Circuit of the Americas on Saturday.

Martin's pole was enough to set a new all-time MotoGP lap record around COTA, while also keeping his front-row start record in 2022 unblemished.

Jack Miller shot to the top of the order, clearing Ducati factory teammate Francesco Bagnaia and it looked good enough to secure pole for the Australian at the Grand Prix of the Americas.

Enter the qualifying specialist Martin, however, gaining close to two tenths in the final sector on his way to setting a new all-time lap record at COTA by just three thousandths of a second.

A new all time lap record at the #AmericasGP ??Watch @88jorgemartin as he smashes the Horsepower Rodeo and remember to predict the next GPs lap time here https://t.co/CzhfMOWL9m to win some incredible prizes with @TISSOT #MotoGP pic.twitter.com/blXj6OhnCk
— MotoGP™ (@MotoGP) April 10, 2022

Seven-time pole winner at this track and dubbed the King of COTA, Repsol Honda's Marc Marquez made an error on his final lap in Q3, meaning a starting position of ninth – his worst qualifying result in Austin.

Behind the top three of Martin, Miller and Bagnaia to clear out the front row for Ducati was the second Pramac bike of Johann Zarco, who finished over five tenths off Martin's pole time.

Reigning world champion Fabio Quartararo was in a decent rhythm in the early stages of qualifying, but slid his Yamaha off at the penultimate corner.

He was able to get back out onto a second bike, but was nearly sixth tenths off the eventual pace in sixth, the only Yamaha in the top 12 qualifiers.

Pole and race winner at the Argentine Grand Prix last weekend, Aleix Espargaro will be heading from row fourth row in 13th, just missing out on the final qualifying session.

Provisional classification

1. Jorge Martin (Pramac Ducati) 2:02.029 2. Jack Miller (Ducati) +0.003s 3. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) +0.128 4. Johann Zarco (Pramac Ducati) +0.531 5. Enea Bastianini (Gresini Ducati) +0.539 6. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Yamaha) +0.595 7. Alex Rins (Suzuki Ecstar) +0.655 8. Joan Mir (Suzuki Ecstar) +0.908 9. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) +0.999 10. Takami Nakagami (LCR Honda) +1.015 11. Luca Marini (Mooney Ducati) +1.020 12. Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda) +1.057