MotoGP 2020: Morbidelli snares first ever pole as Quartararo steals a march on disappointing Dovizioso
September 26, 2020 21:49 MYT
Franco Morbidelli snared a first ever MotoGP pole position at the Catalan Grand Prix as Fabio Quartararo stole a march on disappointing title rival Andrea Dovizioso.
Quartararo appeared set to head the pack at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya having set the fastest lap with just under two minutes to go.
But Petronas Yamaha team-mate Morbidelli set a blistering time of one minute and 38.798 seconds on his final flying lap to bump Quartararo down to second.
Yamaha locked out the front row as the legendary Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha), who it was confirmed on Saturday will take a Petronas seat in 2021, qualified third.
@FrankyMorbido12 edges out team-mate @FabioQ20 for maiden #MotoGP pole!@ValeYellow46 completes the front row with his best qualifying since Silverstone 2019! @MonsterEnergy | #CatalanGP pic.twitter.com/SIbxaJ6jGT
— MotoGP™ (@MotoGP) September 26, 2020
It was a poor outing for championship leader Dovizioso, though, who failed to make it into the final qualifying session and will start way back on the sixth row in 17th.
The Ducati rider will need a huge performance in Sunday's race to keep hold of his championship lead, with Quartararo and Maverick Vinales just a point back.
Jack Miller (Pramac Ducati) made it through Q1 and impressively qualified fourth, with Vinales (Monster Energy Yamaha) and Johann Zarco (Avintia) completing the second row.
Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Joan Mir (Suzuki Ecstar) and Danilo Petrucci (Ducati) are on the third row.
Qualifying results
1. Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha) +1:38.798s