MotoGP Portimao: Zarco survives crash-fest to take pole

Pramac Racing’s Johann Zarco survived an action and accident-packed qualifying to secure pole position for the Portuguese GP at Portimao.

A frenetic final session saw the leader change by the second with the Frenchman celebrating after a 1’42.003 lap in the dying moments. Suzuki Ecstar’s Joan Mir and Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro completed the front row with their own final efforts as late-session-leader Jack Miller dropped from provisional pole to fourth in the blink of an eye.

The premier class qualifying fight fired up from the outset despite the mixed conditions with championship leader Enea Bastianini up against the qualifying prowess of Ducati’s Jorge Martin and Pecco Bagnaia amongst the 15 Q1 runners. Valentino Rossi trackside as younger brother Luca Marini joined the fray.

Takaaki Nakagami and Remy Gardner were the first to head out on slick tyres as a dry line developed on the still cold circuit with the Australian highsiding off the Tech3 after a damp patch at turn nine. The LCR rider diving straight back into the pits to swap rubber.

Aprilia locked out the top two positions as the initial laps registered, Maverick Viñales leading test rider Lorenzo Savadori with Yamaha’s Franky Morbidelli in third. Bastianini’s opening effort took charge as Bagnaia crashed out on slick Michelin at turn nine, the Italian landing heavily on his right shoulder after a monster highside and looking hurt.

Birthday boy Alex Marquez was in control as the final five minutes began having made the slick softs work on the LCR Honda, teammate Nakagami claiming second on medium wets from Bastianini and Andrea Dovizioso.

Pramac’s Martin was the next to strike, falling short of the final promotion place by a mere 0.001s as Dovizioso pushed for