Motegi MotoGP: Top 5 quotes after qualifying
Johann Zarco delivered a master class performance today to clinch a superb second pole position in his rookie MotoGP season.
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
| Cla | # | Rider | Bike | Time | Gap | km/h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 |  Johann Zarco |
Yamaha | 1'53.469 | 152.320 | |
| “I am so happy about this pole position. The team and I did some great work since FP1. There, it was raining all the time, and I think that I improved the feeling of the bike a lot, plus I have grown up in this condition. For qualifying, it was a bit different because the track was drying, but not enough to use the slick tyres. However, I knew that I could feel really good and try things in order to be faster than my opponents in these conditions. It worked and I am so happy for that. Now, I need to use this opportunity to stay in front, whether it rains or not, and do the best race that I can and I will dream about the podium.” | ||||||
| 2 | 9 |  Danilo Petrucci |
Ducati | 1'53.787 | 0.318 | 151.894 |
| “I'm very happy because I didn't expect it. This morning the feeling wasn't perfect and I couldn't be as fast as I hoped. In qualifying we made a very good strategy by making the most of the time available. It's a pity that I made a mistake on one of the last corners otherwise I could have finished with the pole position. But it doesn't matter. The front row start is very good and starting ahead is very important in this circuit. I am very confident for tomorrow”. | ||||||
| 3 | 93 |  Marc Marquez |
Honda | 1'53.903 | 0.434 | 151.739 |
| “The result is good but clearly the slicks today weren’t the right choice, as it was a bit too early for them. Anyway, you always have to look at the positive side of things, which in this case, firstly is that we’re still on the front row, as we had already done a very good lap time on rain tyres; and secondly is that we managed to understand a few things in case of a flag-to-flag race. I’m also happy I saved a crash when I set my fastest time and avoided my team missing dinner tonight! I think we’ve had a good weekend so far, being able to do well in every session in the wet, keeping a fast pace in quite challenging conditions, and that’s very positive. Tomorrow it looks like it will rain again, but we’ll see; we could also have mixed conditions, and in that case we will have to be ready for every situation”. | ||||||
| 4 | 41 | Aleix Espargaro |
Aprilia | 1'53.947 | 0.478 | 151.681 |
| "I am definitely satisfied, not only with the qualifiers, but with the entire weekend so far. We have been competitive in every session and we showed that we have a great pace in the wet. Qualifying was demanding. The track in mixed conditions is certainly not the optimum situation for us. In any case, I was able to earn a good starting position, the best for Aprilia in MotoGP, and for this I must thank the entire team. We need to keep going like this. As for my choice of tyres if the track is very wet, that is not a problem. I hope it rains tomorrow because in those conditions we demonstrated that we can be extremely fast and consistent. If we look at the practice sessions, we are in the group contending for the top positions, but on Sunday anything can happen. A lot of riders who are having difficulties today, like Rossi and Viñales, will be in the game for the race." | ||||||
| 5 | 99 | Jorge Lorenzo |
Ducati | 1'54.235 | 0.766 | 151.298 |
| “I was just a few tenths off improving my fifth place, but at any rate starting tomorrow from the second row is not so bad. Conditions in qualifying were not ideal for us, because the track was drying, and I think that if the track had been wetter we could have got a better result. In any case the most important thing is to be in a good position for the start, also because tomorrow it will probably rain and in these conditions I think we’ve got a good base set-up. We’ve worked well and I feel good on the bike. The key to the race could be the choice of tyres: if the track dries, it’ll be vitally important to manage the tyre wear in the best possible way, and if the track stays wet until the very end I think we can certainly fight for the podium.” | ||||||
Be part of Motorsport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
Jorge Lorenzo joins Porsche Supercup grid for 2023
MotoGP star Lorenzo interested in DTM outing after car racing switch
Why Lorenzo needs to ditch social media and enjoy retirement
Espargaro considering Aprilia test rider role, but MotoGP future still open
Vinales clutch issue had Aprilia “worried” ahead of Americas MotoGP fightback
Why the British GP was a triumph for MotoGP
How rain and strategy spelled disaster for Ferrari in WEC Imola 6 Hours
China F1 upgrades in full, from tweaked headrests to new floors
Wolff: Mercedes can't just keep living off F1 "bright spots"
Pourchaire eager for more IndyCar after “amazing” debut in Long Beach
Can anyone stop "changed" Bagnaia as Ducati tightens its grip on MotoGP?
The signs that MotoGP's Japanese powerhouses are changing
The other Suzuki signing that could transform Honda's MotoGP form
How the MotoGP paddock has offered refuge to Suzuki's former team
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments