MotoGP Qualification Results: Bagnaia Pole Position, Mir Falls Behind

Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia (Twitter @peccobagnaina)

JAKARTA - Ducati's Francesco Bagnaia translated his pace from free practice into pole position for the San Marino Grand Prix when he broke the Misano Circuit record in qualifying on Saturday.

With a record of 1:31,065 Bagnaia claimed his third pole position of the season, beating the previous best lap set by Maverick Vinales (1:31,077) while still racing for Yamaha.

Unbelievable speed and control from @PeccoBagnaia 🤯

Ride on board with the Italian as he breaks the Misano lap record to bag pole 🔥 brought to you by @TISSOT#SanMarinoGP 🇸🇲 pic.twitter.com/cDNjs57cQw

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) September 18, 2021

Jack Miller was 0.249 seconds adrift of his team-mates to bring two Ducati bikes to the front, while standings leader Fabio Quartararo had to settle for P3 after crashing in his final time attack attempt.

With that result, Quartararo also maintained a positive trend in qualifying with 13 starts from the front row of 14 races this season.

Pramac Ducati duo Jorge Martin and Johann Zarco completed the top five ahead of two Repsol Honda riders, Pol Espargaro and Marc Marquez, who crashed while trying to take advantage of riding behind Bagnaia.

Aprilia sent two of his representatives straight into Q2 as Aleix Espargaro secured P8 and Maverick Vinales will start from P10.

While Suzuki again couldn't find the pace needed in qualifying, when Alex Rins and Joan Mir were only able to finish P9 and P11.

Bagnaia arrived on the circuit in his hometown and home of the Ducati with high motivation following the Italian's first win in the premier class when he held off Marc Marquez from pole start at Aragon last week.

While Quartararo hopes to recover from the rear tire problem he suffered at Aragon to maintain a 53-point lead over Bagnaia who looms in second place.

Defending world champion Joan Mir took the podium last week, but the Suzuki rider is still eyeing his first win of the season.

Racing at Misano will also be an emotional day for the home fans as Valentino Rossi makes his final appearance at the circuit just 10 km from his home before retiring at the end of the season.

Rossi continues his tradition of wearing a special livery helmet, this time with a pink ribbon design on a white background, at the circuit near his home.

Drama throughout as the riders pushed to the limit! ✊

This is your Quick-Fire Qualifying from Misano! 🔥#SanMarinoGP 🇸🇲 pic.twitter.com/EooK2gH7mX

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) September 18, 2021

However, The Doctor had to swallow his disappointment when he was only able to start from P23 after falling in Q2.

The 42-year-old Italian has five races remaining before ending his career with seven MotoGP world titles and making him an icon in Italy.

The final race in Rossi's hometown will be held next month titled the Made in Italy Grand Prix which will also be held in Misano.

This weekend's San Marino Grand Prix was also marked by the return of Franco Morbidelli and Andrea Dovizioso after both riders were awarded new contracts from Yamaha.

After undergoing surgery on his left knee in June and missing five races this season, Morbidelli was promoted to the factory Yamaha team in place of Maverick Vinales who left mid-season.

Meanwhile, Dovizioso, who has signed a contract with Yamaha until 2022, had an early assignment as Valentino Rossi's tandem on the SRT satellite team to complete the remaining five races of the season.

Morbidelli will start from P16 while Dovi is in a distended position in P24.

Two Wildcard riders will enliven the 14th race in the calendar when Honda downgraded test rider Stefan Bradl and Ducati reinstated Michele Pirro.

GP San Marino Qualification Result

1 Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Team (GP21)

2 Jack Miller Ducati Team (GP21)

3 Fabio Quartararo Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1)

4 Jorge Martin Pramac Ducati (GP21)

5 Johann Zarco Pramac Ducati (GP21)

6 Pol Espargaro Repsol Honda (RC213V)

7 Marc Marquez Repsol Honda (RC213V)

8 Aleix Espargaro Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)

9 Alex Rins Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)

10 Maverick Viñales Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)

11 Joan Mir Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)

12 Enea Bastianini Avintia Ducati (GP19)

13 Takaaki Nakagami LCR Honda (RC213V)

14 Michele Pirro Ducati Team (GP21)

15 Luca Marini VR46 Avintia Ducati (GP19)

16 Franco Morbidelli Monster Yamaha (YZR-M1)

17 Brad Binder Red Bull KTM (RC16)

18 Stefan Bradl HRC (RC213V)

19 Alex Marquez LCR Honda (RC213V)

20 Iker Lecuona KTM Tech3 (RC16)

21 Miguel Oliveira Red Bull KTM (RC16)

22 Danilo Petrucci KTM Tech3 (RC16)

23 Valentino Rossi Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1)

24 Andrea Dovizioso Petronas Yamaha (YZR-M1)