Bagnaia claims third consecutive MotoGP pole, Miller only tenth at COTA

For the third consecutive time since Aragon, Francesco Bagnaia will start a MotoGP from pole position after setting the only sub 2m 03s lap of Q2. 

Fellow Ducati rider Jorge Martin, who was behind Alex Rins and Marc Marquez on track to begin the session, put his Pramac machine on provisional pole following every rider's first effort.

However, Marquez then bettered the Spanish rookie on his second lap round, while Takaaki Nakagami put his LCR Honda machine into third. 

It was a slow start to Q2 for pre-session favourite Jack Miller after topping both FP3 and FP4. The Ducati man was down in eighth following the opening run. Title contenders Fabio Quartararo and Francesco Bagnaia were fifth and sixth. 

But as the final stages approached, Bagnaia didn’t stay fifth for long as a sensational final lap saw the Italian better Marquez’ time by over four tenths. 

In a surprising turn of events, Miller and Marquez only got across the line for one flying lap which ended up being completely off the pace. 

It didn’t cost Marquez too badly as the seven-time winner at COTA remained on the front row in third, but for Miller, the Australian will start in tenth, not the result many expected. 

Like Bagnaia, Fabio Quartararo also jumped up from the second row late on to split his title rival and Marquez.  

Qualifying One

Before a lap was even completed, Aleix Espargaro’s disastrous weekend continued as he suffered his fourth crash - second at turn 12. The Aprilia rider was able to get the bike going before immediately returning to pit lane. 

Mir, who has been one of the more vocal riders regarding the bumps at COTA, carried his positive momentum from FP4 (finished second) into Q1 by topping the leaderboard after the opening run. 

One rider who’s opening run didn’t go to plan was Miguel Oliveira as he suffered a fall at turn 11. 

Second heading into run #2 was Franco Morbidelli, while Alex Marquez was provisionally the first rider missing out on a Q2 place.

Mir momentarily went faster on his first flyer out of the pits, however, Luca Marini then bettered the Suzuki rider by over a tenth of a second. 

While it was a good final few minutes for Marini who ended the session fastest from Mir, the same can’t be said about Valentino Rossi, as the nine-time world champion became the third crasher of the session.