Espargaro takes last dash pole to deny Bagnaia and Bastianini

The Aprilia rider becomes the sixth different polesitter over the last six GPs at Silverstone as the stage is set for two stunning showdowns

Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) heads the grid at the Monster Energy British Grand Prix, with the 2023 winner putting in a late dash to take over on top with a new lap record. He becomes the sixth different polesitter at Silverstone in the last six Grands Prix at the venue, and is the first of four riders who broke the previous lap record in a stunningly quick Q2.

Reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) lines up in P2 after a little drama for the reigning Champion, just ahead of teammate Enea Bastianini completing the front row.

Q1
It was neck-at-neck after the first runs in another close battle to move through, with Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) setting the exact same laptime. By the end of the session the goalposts had moved again though, and the #73 was able to pull 0.035 out on the rookie superstar. Still, they moved through with a couple of tenths in hand over the rest, led by Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing).

Q2
After the first runs it was a Ducati Lenovo 1-2 with Bagnaia on provisional pole, despite the best efforts of Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) looking for a tow behind the #1. However, heading back out, Bagnaia suffered that drama, starting his flying lap but then slowing into the run off. A tear off or sticker on his helmet had needed some attention, and the lap was gone. Was the chance gone too?

It was. Not too long after, there was a crash for Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) at Turn 2, putting out the yellow flags and putting paid to improvements for those who may have been able to make it round for one final push. That didn’t include Espargaro, however, as he was already on three red sectors looking for a fourth, taking a stunning pole position with that new lap record.

Bagnaia, although frustrated at losing the chance to make that final attack for pole, takes second ahead of Bastianini, who had looked on to challenge before sitting up out that lap. They both broke the previous lap record, as did the rider just behind them heading up Row 2: Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing).

THE GRID
Behind the Espargaro, Bagnaia, Bastianini lockout, Martin heads that second row ahead of Alex Marquez via Q1 and a solid P6 for Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).

Marc Marquez slots into P7 and will be looking to move forward from the off, as will the rider right alongside him: Viñales, another previous winner at the venue. Acosta completes that third row.

Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) was just half a tenth behind the rookie, with Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) completing the Q2 runners and looking to move forward when the lights go out.

The stage is set, the pace is hot and the lights go out not once, but twice this weekend at the awesome Silverstone Circuit. Who’s coming out on top in the battles in Britain? Tune in to find out!

SATURDAY
TISSOT SPRINT: 15:00 (UTC +1)
SUNDAY
GRAND PRIX: 13:00 (UTC +1)

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