MotoGP Buriram: Bezzecchi stuns for maiden pole

Mooney VR46’s Marco Bezzecchi secured his debut pole position in MotoGP with a new all-time record at Buriram.

Ducati locked out the front row for the Thai Grand Prix as Prima Pramac’s Jorge Martin and Ducati Lenovo’s Pecco Bagnaia completed the celebrations, the trio covered by just a tenth after a rapid qualifying session at the Chang international Circuit.

FP3 found Martin in charge after an early crash as he headed an all-Ducati quartet at the top of the Saturday morning times. JapaneseGP victor Jack Miller, Johann Zarco and Bagnaia completed the Bologna charge with championship leader Fabio Quartararo rounding out the top five.

Big hitters Marc Marquez, Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Viñales headed for Q1 after a challenging weekend for the Aprilia duo so far. The Repsol Honda rider missing out on direct promotion by a painfully close 0.007s.

Marquez was the first to set a time as the opening qualifying kicked into gear. His 1’30.343 dominating the session by over half a second from both Espargaro brothers, in chronological order before Red Bull KTM’s Miguel Oliveira and Gresini’s Fabio Di Giannantonio claimed second and third.

LCR’s Alex Marquez split the brothers as the next laps came in. Tech3’s Raul Fernandez fighting the sickness on his way to fifth, after sitting out of the morning action with a gastro bug, with Aleix Espargaro back in second, 0.266 adrift. WithU Yamaha’s Cal Crutchlow was the next to fight, less than two tenths shy of the eight-time champion as he demoted the RS-GP. The Brit battling the pain barrier after Friday’s mammoth highside as he staked his claim on the final promotion place.

Suzuki Ecstar stand-in rider Danilo Petrucci was the first out for the final run. The Espargaro brothers in