European MotoGP, Valencia - Full Qualifying Results
UPDATE: Aprilia's Espargaro will drop from sixth to ninth on the grid due to a penalty for ignoring blue flags in Qualifying 2.
Espargaro and KTM take pole position for the European MotoGP at a wet but drying Valencia, ahead of Rins and Nakagami (who fell).
World championship leader Mir will start fifth, with nearest rival Quartararo in eleventh.
UPDATE: Aprilia's Espargaro will drop from sixth to ninth on the grid due to a penalty for ignoring blue flags in Qualifying 2.
Espargaro and KTM take pole position for the European MotoGP at a wet but drying Valencia, ahead of Rins and Nakagami (who fell).
World championship leader Mir will start fifth, with nearest rival Quartararo in eleventh.
Valentino Rossi returned to action on Saturday morning after missing the last two Aragon rounds, plus Friday practice at Valencia, after contracting Covid-19. The Italian was replaced by GYT Yamaha WorldSBK rider Garrett Gerloff on Friday.
Team-mate Vinales will be forced to start Sunday's race from pit lane (5 seconds after the lights go out) after exceeding the five engines per season limit.
Binder will have a long lap penalty in the race for an opening-lap collision with Miller at Aragon.
Tech3 KTM's Iker Lecuona has been forced to withdraw from the event and self-isolate after a positive Covid test for his brother and assistant.
Bradley Smith, standing in for Andrea Iannone, has been replaced by fellow Aprilia test rider Lorenzo Savadori for the remaining events.
HRC test rider Bradl is again replacing injured reigning world champion Marc Marquez.
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| European MotoGP, Valencia - Full Qualifying Results | ||||||
| Pos | Rider | Nat | Team | Time/Diff | Lap | Max |
| 1 | Pol Espargaro | SPA | Red Bull KTM (RC16) | 1'40.434s | 8/9 | 315k |
| 2 | Alex Rins | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.041s | 8/9 | 318k |
| 3 | Takaaki Nakagami | JPN | LCR Honda (RC213V) | +0.096s | 5/8 | 313k |
| 4 | Johann Zarco | FRA | Reale Avintia (GP19) | +0.143s | 5/5 | 317k |
| 5 | Joan Mir | SPA | Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) | +0.270s | 8/8 | 313k |
| 6 | Jack Miller | AUS | Pramac Ducati (GP20) | +0.459s | 2/5 | 318k |
| 7 | Aleix Espargaro | SPA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) | +0.563s | 8/8 | 314k |
| 8 | Miguel Oliveira | POR | Red Bull KTM Tech3 (RC16) | +0.894s | 9/9 | 314k |
| 9 | Franco Morbidelli | ITA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +1.123s | 3/8 | 310k |
| 10 | Brad Binder | RSA | Red Bull KTM (RC16)* | +1.347s | 8/9 | 314k |
| 11 | Fabio Quartararo | FRA | Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1) | +1.509s | 4/9 | 315k |
| 12 | Andrea Dovizioso | ITA | Ducati Team (GP20) | +1.815s | 8/8 | 324k |
| Qualifying 1: | ||||||
| 13 | Stefan Bradl | GER | Repsol Honda (RC213V) | 1'41.01s | 7/8 | 315k |
| 14 | Alex Marquez | SPA | Repsol Honda (RC213V)* | 1'41.276s | 9/9 | 317k |
| 15 | Maverick Viñales | SPA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | 1'41.31s | 7/7 | 313k |
| 16 | Cal Crutchlow | GBR | LCR Honda (RC213V) | 1'41.311s | 7/8 | 317k |
| 17 | Francesco Bagnaia | ITA | Pramac Ducati (GP20) | 1'41.395s | 6/9 | 321k |
| 18 | Valentino Rossi | ITA | Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1) | 1'42.039s | 6/9 | 310k |
| 19 | Danilo Petrucci | ITA | Ducati Team (GP20) | 1'42.244s | 4/9 | 320k |
| 20 | Lorenzo Savadori | ITA | Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) | 1'42.532s | 6/9 | 310k |
| 21 | Tito Rabat | SPA | Reale Avintia (GP19) | 1'43.03s | 7/9 | 315k |
* Rookie.
Official Valencia MotoGP records:
Best lap:
Marc Marquez SPA Honda1m 31.116s (2019)
Fastest race lap:
Jorge Lorenzo SPA Yamaha1m 29.401s (2016)
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
