MotoGP Valencia: Marc Marquez Takes Pole Position Despite Crash

2017-11-12
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MotoGP Valencia: Marc Marquez Takes Pole Position Despite Crash
The Round 18 on MotoGP 2017, Valencia Grand Prix Qualifying ran at Circuit Ricardo Tormo on November 11. This marks MotoGP final race in 2017.
Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) took an eighth pole position of the season despite he crashed at turn 4.
Rookie of 2017, Johann Zarco (Tech3 Yamaha) took second after improving on his final lap, but he behind Marquez by a margin of 0.349s.
Andrea Iannone (Suzuki Ecstar) was third with 1m 30.399s.
Marquez's rival Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) was 9th place with 1m 30.961s, he will be hard to clinch the World Title on starting third row tomorrow.
Marc Marquez only needs a top-11 finish on Sunday, but Andrea Dovizioso has to win for getting the title and Marc Marquez has to finish less than 12th.
Marc Marquez (P1):
“We are human and it will be more difficult to sleep. But it’s normal, I would be more nervous if Dovi was on pole and I was tenth, ninth or eighth…
I’m really happy to be on pole during this special weekend. It’s my 73rd pole position which is my brother’s number! I’m happy with the rhythm and the feeling of the bike…I had a small slide trying to improve the laptime but it was already a good lap. It’s Marquez style until Warm Up, then maybe we need to change the strategy and adapt to the conditions tomorrow. But I’m feeling good with the bike, which is the most important. Two crashes this weekend was when I was pushing more than I feel. The first few laps will be more difficult because when you’re fighting for the Championship you’re stiff on the bike until you get used to it. But we need to keep the same mentality. That will be the key.
When you see front row Marquez-Zarco-Iannone, you say ‘Dangerous! Something will happen at the first corner. But I know Zarco is fast and will push, Iannone is a fighter…and to finish the race is the most important for me.”
Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana Qualifying Results
1. Marc Marquez / Repsol Honda / 1m 29.897s
2. Johann Zarco / Monster Yamaha Tech3 / 1m 30.246s
3. Andrea Iannone / Suzuki Ecstar / 1m 30.399s
4. Jorge Lorenzo / Ducati Team / 1m 30.460s
5. Dani Pedrosa / Repsol Honda / 1m 30.589s
6. Michele Pirro / Ducati Team / 1m 30.764s
7. Valentino Ross / Movistar Yamaha / 1m 30.848s
8. Aleix Espargar / Factory Aprilia Gresini / 1m 30.857s
9. Andrea Dovizioso / Ducati Team / 1m 30.961s
10. Alex Rins / Suzuki Ecstar / 1m 30.972s
11. Pol Espargaro / Red Bull KTM Factory / 1m 31.044s
12. Jack Miller / EG 0,0 Marc VDS / 1m 31.190s
13. Maverick Viñales / Movistar Yamaha / 1m 31.030s
14. Tito Rabat / EG 0,0 Marc VDS / 1m 31.197s
15. Danilo Petrucci / Octo Pramac / 1m 31.216s
16. Cal Crutchlow / LCR Honda / 1m 31.297s
17. Bradley Smith / Red Bull KTM Factory / 1m 31.300s
18. Karel Abraham / Pull&Bear Aspar / 1m 31.325s
19. Mika Kallio / Red Bull KTM Factory / 1m 31.361s
20. Hector Barbera / Reale Avintia / 1m 31.487s
21. Alvaro Bautista / Pull&Bear Aspar / 1m 31.578s
22. Scott Redding / Octo Pramac / 1m 31.625s
23. Loris Baz / Reale Avintia / 1m 31.775s
24. Sam Lowes / Factory Aprilia Gresini / 1m 31.816s
25. Michael Van Der Mark / Movistar Yamaha / 1m 32.504s
All photos copyright by MotoGP.
source : MotoGP