MotoGP Portuguese GP: Zarco snatches pole, Bagnaia in hospital after crash

The first 15-minute segment of qualifying started off with the best laps coming on wets before a crossover point materialised where slicks were the best option.

And throughout Q2 the fight for pole was dictated by track evolution, with Pramac Ducati’s Zarco setting the pole lap on his final lap with a 1m42.003s.

Qualifying started in chaotic fashion in Q1 as the track had dried out enough for some to gamble on slicks, but wet patches remained.

LCR Honda’s Takaaki Nakagami was one of the first to venture out on slicks, but immediately bailed for wet tyres at the end of his out-lap.

Tech3’s Remy Gardner also went out on slicks but crashed at Turn 9, while Ducati’s Bagnaia was flicked from his slick-shod bike at the first corner as he started a flying lap.

Bagnaia – winner and poleman at Portimao in November - landed heavily and pointed towards his right shoulder to trackside medical staff, with the Italian being put into the back of an ambulance to be taken for checks.

Ducati confirmed Bagnaia's initial checks at the medical centre revealed no fractures, but has been transferred to a local hospital for further examination.

Joan Mir, Team Suzuki MotoGP

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Slicks would eventually become the tyre to be on as Q1 drew to a close, with Alex Marquez on the LCR Honda and VR46 Ducati’s Luca Marini using soft rubber to get through to Q2.

Championship leader Enea Bastianini also switched to slicks for his final run and suffered a similarly heavy crash to his Ducati counterpart Bagnaia – the Gresini rider coming off at Turn 5.

This left 2022’s only repeat winner 18th on the grid, while Bagnaia will start last if he is cleared to race having not even set a lap time.

Adding to the list of major