Francesco Bagnaia pipped championship leader Jorge Martin to clinch pole position for the 2024 Malaysian MotoGP at the Sepang International Circuit.
The reigning world champion delivered a stunning performance, setting a new lap record of 1:56.337, which not only secured him the top spot on the grid but also highlighted the intense competition between him and his title rival, Jorge Martin.
The qualifying for 2024 Malaysian MotoGP was nothing short of exhilarating as both riders pushed each other to their limits with Martin finishing just 0.216 seconds behind Bagnaia.
As the qualifying session commenced, anticipation filled the air. The riders had already demonstrated their speed during the practice sessions, with Bagnaia and Martin consistently at the forefront. In particular, Bagnaia had been the fastest in Free Practice 2, setting the stage for what was expected to be a fierce battle for pole position.
The first phase of qualifying (Q1) saw several riders contending for a chance to claim for pole position in Q2. Among them was Marco Bezzecchi, who initially set a blistering pace.
However, it was Johann Zarco who made headlines by dramatically improving his time on the final lap of Q1, securing his place in Q2 and pushing Bezzecchi out of contention. Brad Binder also advanced, showcasing strong performances from KTM riders.
When Q2 began, it was clear that the stakes were high. Jorge Martin was the first to make a statement, clocking an impressive time that placed him at the top of the timing sheets early in the session. His initial lap suggested he might be able to secure pole position with a new record time.
Martin’s confidence grew as he pitted after his first run with a half-second advantage over Bagnaia.
However, Bagnaia was not to be outdone; he returned to the track with renewed determination and on his final run, the reigning world champion pushed his Ducati Lenovo GP24 to its limits to set a lap time of 1:56.337 which shattered Martin’s earlier record.
Martin’s response was commendable as the championship leader attempted to match Bagnaia’s pace but faced a setback when he experienced a front-end slide at Turn 14 during his final attempt.
Despite the minor mishap, Martin’s earlier time still secured him second place on the grid. He acknowledged Bagnaia’s exceptional performance post-qualifying, stating that while he believed his first lap would be enough for pole, Bagnaia’s effort was “incredible.”
READ ALSO: 2024 Malaysian MotoGP: Francesco Bagnaia dominates Friday practice as Martin crashes
Completing the front row was Alex Marquez, who managed to secure third place with a solid lap time that placed him nearly a second behind Bagnaia. The Gresini rider expressed satisfaction with his performance and acknowledged the challenge posed by both Bagnaia and Martin.
The second row of the grid will feature Franco Morbidelli in fourth, Marc Marquez in fifth alongside Enea Bastianini in sixth. Morbidelli’s performance was particularly notable as he continues to find form with his Pramac Ducati after some inconsistent results earlier in the season.
Marc Marquez also showed promising pace but admitted that he would need to find additional speed if he hoped to contend for victory against his rivals. As for Bastianini, his qualifying session ended prematurely due to a crash that left him unable to improve upon his earlier times.
Jack Miller led the third row as KTM’s top performer in seventh place, followed closely by Yamaha riders Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins. Both Yamaha riders have shown improved form this weekend and are eager to capitalize on their qualifying positions during the race.
The fourth row consisted of Brad Binder from KTM and Johann Zarco from LCR Honda along with Maverick Viñales from Aprilia. Zarco notably advanced from Q1 with an impressive final lap that secured him a spot in Q2 while pushing Pedro Acosta out of contention.
Acosta dropped to 13th in the closing seconds, and his final qualification place piled on the pressure after a difficult spell of form in the recent flyaway races. The rookie will have to work his way up the grid once more.
Marco Bezzecchi and Raul Fernandez secured 14th and 15th, respectively, but the latter’s more surprising feat was gaining a considerable advantage from his free practice times to start behind the GP23 Ducati rider.
Aleix Espargaro will start the 2024 Malaysian MotoGP races in 16th ahead of Di Giannantonio’s replacement at VR46 Andrea Iannone who came within touching distance of reaching the top two to secure a Q2 place, but a marginal last-corner slip-up cost the Italian dearly and will start in 17th place.
LCR Honda’s Takaaki Nakagami and the Repsol Honda duo Luca Marini and Joan Mir will start 18th-20th on the grid. Augusto Fernandez and Lorenzo Savadori will start from the last two spots on the grid.
