In a thrilling qualifying session for the 2024 Gran Premio Pramac dell’Emilia-Romagna, Francesco Bagnaia of Ducati Team clinched a sensational pole position with a record-breaking lap at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. The Italian rider smashed the previous lap record, setting an astounding time of 1:30.031. His performance gave him a 0.214-second advantage over Championship leader Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), setting the stage for a heated race weekend.
Bagnaia’s impressive lap comes at a crucial moment in the 2024 MotoGP season, as the battle for the championship heats up between him and Martin. Despite Martin briefly holding the provisional pole earlier in the session, Bagnaia’s final lap proved unbeatable, marking a remarkable achievement in his career. Jorge Martin, who continues to lead the standings, had to settle for second place but remains a key contender in Sunday’s Grand Prix.
In addition to Bagnaia’s success, Ducati Lenovo Team’s Enea Bastianini secured the third and final spot on the front row. Nicknamed ‘The Beast,’ Bastianini delivered an impressive performance on his final flying lap, improving just in time to hold onto the position. This marks a significant result for Bastianini as he continues to find his rhythm in the 2024 season.
The day wasn’t without its fair share of drama, starting in Q1 when Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) crashed at Turn 1. The younger Marquez quickly sprinted back to his garage in an attempt to salvage his session with a last-minute attack. Despite his efforts, Marquez was left with work to do in Sunday’s race, starting from 21st position on the grid.
Meanwhile, Miguel Oliveira (Trackhouse Racing) showed early promise, topping the timesheets before Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Brad Binder stepped up with a strong lap. Binder and Oliveira both advanced to Q2 after their solid performances.
Q2: Intense Battle for Pole
Once Q2 began, Jorge Martin set an early benchmark with a stunning 1:30.245, immediately breaking the lap record. However, the excitement intensified as Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) experienced a crash at Turn 3, adding to the tension. Marquez’s fall hindered his progress, and despite returning to the track, he was unable to improve on his earlier lap time.
As the session approached its final minutes, riders scrambled to improve their times. The Misano crowd was treated to a spectacular show of red sectors lighting up the timing screens, with Bagnaia and Martin going head-to-head. In the end, Bagnaia’s record-shattering 1:30.031 was enough to secure pole position, placing him two-tenths clear of Martin. Brad Binder briefly held third place before Enea Bastianini found extra time to leapfrog him, relegating Binder to fourth.
Marc Marquez Struggles, Starts from Row Three
Marc Marquez, despite his best efforts after returning to the track, was unable to make significant improvements following his crash. His best time came on lap three of his initial run, leaving him 0.849 seconds off Bagnaia’s pole lap. As a result, the eight-time World Champion will start from the third row, in seventh place.
Other notable performances include Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), who continued his impressive rookie season by qualifying fifth. Acosta’s rapid development is evident as he placed ahead of established riders such as Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), who will start sixth.
Starting just behind Marc Marquez on the second row, Brad Binder secured fourth place with a solid performance. Binder will face tough competition from Acosta and Bezzecchi in the battle for podium places during both the Tissot Sprint and the main Grand Prix on Sunday.
Further back on the grid, Maverick Vinales (Aprilia Racing) will start from eighth, while Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team) rounded out the top nine with another standout performance, finishing just behind Vinales.
Australian rider Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) had a difficult qualifying session and will start from 19th, leaving him with plenty of ground to cover if he hopes to challenge the front-runners. Like Miller, Alex Marquez will have a challenging race ahead, as he lines up in 21st following his earlier crash in Q1.
With Bagnaia on pole and Martin in second, the stage is set for an exciting battle between the two title contenders. Both riders have shown remarkable form throughout the 2024 season, and with the championship on the line, the Emilia Romagna GP promises to be a pivotal race.
Fans around the world, including those in India, can catch all the action from the Emilia Romagna GP live on Eurosport and Eurosport HD starting at 1:15 PM IST on Sunday. The Tissot Sprint and the main race are sure to deliver thrilling moments as Bagnaia, Martin, and the rest of the grid go head-to-head in the 14th round of the MotoGP calendar.
