Good rhythm? No doubt about it! Francesco Bagnaia confirmed his practice performance with a 1min19s931 and took the pole position for the German GP
On a track where the history was not so favorable, Ducati could smile with the thunderous performance of Francesco Bagnaia: leader for much of the practice sessions, owner of the new Sachsenring fastest lap record and pole-position for the 2022 German GP. The Italian lapped 1min19s931 - the only one in the 1min19s range - to take his third pole position of the season.
Fabio Quartararo tried his best to take Pecco's pole position, but couldn't do it by 0s076s. Nevertheless, he will start next to his rival in tomorrow's race. Johann Zarco closes the front row, 0s099 seconds behind the leader. Aleix Espargaró and Fabio Di Giannantonio complete the top five, respectively.
Jack Miller, Luca Marini, Jorge Martín, Maverick Viñales, Takaaki Nakagami, Marco Bezzecchi, and Joan Mir round out the top-12 at the German GP.
The MotoGP start for the German GP at Sachsenring is scheduled for 09:00 am (EST) on Sunday (19).GRANDE PRÊMIO is following all the activities of the 2022 MotoGP World Championship.
TL4: Quartararo holds off Bagnaia to lead last practice session
Under very high weather conditions - 32ºC sun, 49ºC track temperature and relative humidity of 24% - Francesco Bagnaia arrived as the name to beat, as he led last Friday with his he led last Friday with the best time achieved in TL2, and was also the frontrunner on Saturday morning (18), in the third practice session. The Italian's mark was 1min19s765 - a new Sachsenring track record.
Before the start of the fourth free practice session, Suzuki announced that Álex Rins has ended his participation in the German GP. According to the rider, he felt pain in his left wrist and therefore preferred to be absent in order to make a recovery and return well in Assen. Alex was involved in an accident with Takaaki Nakagami at the Catalunya GP and had been cleared for the German round.
Free practice 4 was delayed by technical problems, due to a power failure on the circuit. When everything was resolved, the riders took to the track with 30 minutes on the clock. Francesco Bagnaia was the first to take the lead: 1min21s613. Fabio Quartararo and Aleix Espargaró were behind.
Jack Miller jumped into second position, 0s061 behind his teammate. Miguel Oliveira was the next pointer when he dropped to 1min21s417, but it didn't last long. Quartararo took the lead with 1min21s065. Only Pecco beat that mark with 1min21s0041, 0s024 seconds behind the defending champion.
Aleix Espargaró went down at turn 13, but got up without too much trouble. Next, Jack Miller also crashed, at the same point - he was even under investigation, as he apparently crashed during the yellow flag. Meanwhile, the #20 retook the lead with 1min21s065, leaving Pecco 0s054 behind.
Q1: Di Giannantonio makes it through with ease; Bezecchi makes it through at the end
Miguel Oliveira, Pol Espargaró and Enea Bastianini were among the big names vying for a place in the final qualifying round. For two spots, Fabio Di Giannantonio and Remy Gardner set the first best times. The Gresini driver clocked in at 1min20s307.
Franco Morbidelli took Gardner out when he set a 1min21s064. But the Italian-Brazilian was also beaten, only by Pol Espargaró. The #44 was 0s396 behind the Italian.
In the last five minutes and after a pitstop, the riders returned for their final spins. Marco Bezzecchi ousted Espargaró to take second place with 1min20s600, still 0s293s behind the leader. End of session: Di Giannantonio and Bezecchi - who saved himself from Pol Espargaró by a mere 0s004 - in Q2.
Q2: Bagnaia confirms excellent pace and seals pole
With Di Giannantonio and Bezzecchi in the last two places, the 12 drivers started Q2 with the difficulties of the hot asphalt. Aleix Espargaró was the first to start with 1min20s413. But Bagnaia overtook him with 1min20s098, opening a good advantage.
Miller jumped to second place, just 0s056 seconds behind Pecco. Martin was third. Fabio Quartararo, who had a good lap deleted for going outside track limits, was sixth.
Without much threat, Bagnaia was using the time to improve his own pace. He got as close as 1min19s: 1min19s931. He was the only one until then. Aleix was the closest: 1min20s120, still 0s189 away. 'El Diablo' tried every way to take the pole, he reached the third place, which soon became second with 1min20s007, 0s076 away from the leader. He tried one last time, but it had no effect.
Also in the last laps Takaaki Nakagami had a strong crash. The Japanese rider, who is recovering from an accident at the Catalunya GP, lost control at turn 1. He walked off the track, but complained of pain in his right arm.