- 2017-09-24
-
SPORTS
-
-
Donate to support families affected by the crisis in Ukraine ➔ MotoGP Aragon: Maverick Vinales Takes Pole Position, Valentino Rossi on The Front Row
The Round 14 on MotoGP 2017, Aragon Grand Prix Qualifying ran at MotorLand Aragón on September 23.
Maverick Vinales (Movistar Yamaha) took pole position for the Aragon MotoGP ahead of Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) and an injured Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha) snatched a front-row spot.
Valentino Rossi came back just 23 days on from breaking his right leg in a motocross crash.
Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) ended up best of the Hondas on his satellite LCR machine in fourth. After Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) crashed, he dropped to fifth on the grid ahead of team-mate Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda). Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) finished down in seventh.
Mika Kallio (Red Bull KTM Factory) made his latest wild-card entry, but crashed late on and was demoted to 12th.
Maverick Viñales (P1):
“It’s always important to be on the front row, because it seems half the race you can push from the beginning so it makes sense to control the race and the tyres. The team did a great job, we changed to a new setup and I’m really confident and feel I can push. Pace is hard to compare so let’s see tomorrow but I’m pleased to be on pole. In the dry we have a really competitive bike but in the wet we have to improve. Here nobody knows about the tyre, we have to work hard in Warm Up to understand what to use in the race. It’s important tomorrow to make a good start, try and pull away from the beginning, take the chance and give our maximum.”
Jorge Lorenzo (P2):
“We were very far away this morning, a bit because yesterday we couldn’t practice in the dry. I still need some practice with this bike in the dry, that’s why I struggled so much this morning. But little by little with some modifications we got better and better. It was almost positive to be in Q1 and have the extra minutes, I’m happy with another front row this season and this one is the most surprising one. I’m starting to like this bike a lot, but you have to ride it so differently to my old one. Our pace in FP4 was good and we have a good position, so with a good start we can have a good race. I’m trying to not remember Misano because it makes me angry but these things can happen. Normally I don’t make many mistakes but we learnt from that and we’re competitive in the dry - which is the most common circumstance.”
Valentino Rossi (P3):
“It’s a surprise for me and us, because I didn’t know what to expect. A week ago I started to think maybe it was possible to ride here, and I did some laps with the R1 thinking it could be possible but with some pain. But the leg has improved every day. The M1 is more comfortable and better for my size, riding yesterday in the wet was fine but I didn’t know in the dry. But this morning I felt quite good, I have some pain but not too much. My position on the bike isn’t perfect but quite close to the normal one, at first we changed some things but now I’m using the normal footpeg and seat position and for sure it’s better.
We worked a lot with the team and on the second tyre I was able to get the front row. That’s important. We still need to work a bit because with the race tyre my pace isn’t fantastic but we’ll try. On Friday morning when I woke up I was in pain, then this morning when I woke up it was better. So if tomorrow continues in the same way, I can do the race. But the bike is a bit more demanding on the race tyres…for sure I have to suffer, but I’ll try.”
Gran Premio Movistar de Aragón Qualifying Results- Maverick Vinales / Movistar Yamaha / 1m 47.635s
- Jorge Lorenzo / Ducati Team / 1m 47.735s +0.100s
- Valentino Rossi / Movistar Yamaha / 1m 47.815s
- Cal Crutchlow / LCR Honda / 1m 47.830s +0.195s
- Marc Marquez / Repsol Honda / 1m 47.963s +0.328s
- Dani Pedrosa / Repsol Honda / 1m 48.107s +0.472s
- Andrea Dovizioso / Ducati Team / 1m 48.137s
- Aleix Espargaro / Factory Aprilia Gresini / 1m 48.159s
- Alvaro Bautista / Pull&Bear Aspar / 1m 48.187s +0.552s
- Andrea Iannone / Suzuki Ecstar / 1m 48.289s +0.654s
- Johann Zarco / Monster Yamaha Tech3 / 1m 48.402s
- Mika Kalli / Red Bull KTM Factory / 1m 48.471s
- Jack Miller / EG 0,0 Marc VDS / 1m 48.307s
- Pol Espargaro / Red Bull KTM Factory / 1m 48.387s
- Karel Abraham / Pull&Bear Aspar / 1m 48.467s
- Danilo Petrucci / Octo Pramac / 1m 48.908s
- Loris Baz / Reale Avintia / 1m 48.911s
- Jonas Folger / Monster Yamaha / 1m 49.034s
- Hector Barbera / Reale Avintia / 1m 49.052s
- Alex Rins / Suzuki Ecstar / 1m 49.233s
- Tito Rabat / EG 0,0 Marc VDS / 1m 49.258s
- Scott Redding / Octo Pramac / 1m 49.288s
- Bradley Smith / Red Bull KTM Factory / 1m 49.578s
- Sam Lowes / Factory Aprilia Gresini / 1m 50.769s
All photos copyright by MotoGP.- source : MotoGP
