- 2022-05-15
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SPORTS
MotoGP French: Francesco Bagnaia Takes Back-To-Back Pole Positions at Le Mans
The Round 7 of MotoGP 2022, the SHARK Grand Prix de France took place at circuit of Le Mans in French city on May 14, 2022.
Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo) took back-to-back pole positions for the first time this season. He set a new All Time Lap Record in the process, with his 1:30.450 the fastest two-wheeled lap seen around Le Mans.
His teammate Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo) was 2nd place on the front row. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) remarkable run of form continuing. He takes a third consecutive front row.
Fabio Quartararo (Monster Yamaha) and Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) have been consigned to second row starts at their home GP.
But after qualifying, Johann Zarco has been given a three-place penalty, dropping him from sixth to ninth on the grid, for "riding slowly on the racing line and disturbing" Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda) at Turn 4 during qualifying.
Enea Bastianini (Gresini Ducati) was 5th and Joan Mir (Suzuki Ecstar) now moves up to the outside of the second row.
Alex Rins (Suzuki Ecstar) was 7th. Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) advanced to Q2 from Q1, but finished 8th.
Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) made a mistake on his final lap into the Dunlop chicane and was 10th. Following him, Pol Espargaro (Repsol Honda) and Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda) were 11th and 12th, respectively. It was frustration for the Hondas.
Francesco Bagnaia said, “First of all, this morning I was happy, but when it's cold it's easier to go fast at this track. This afternoon in FP4 I was not sure about the pole position because I was struggling a lot. My biggest problem was to stop the bike, that was the biggest problem. Then in qualifying we made a bet with my crew chief and my Ohlins technician, because I was not feeling great. And then after this little modification I started to feel great again as if it was morning. So, the grip was better, I was able to stop the bike better. And finally, the feeling was great. So, I'm happy for the pole position, I'm more happy about finding something that helped me a lot. I think we are ready for the race tomorrow. For sure Fabio is the man to beat. But I think that after this modification I did in qualifying, I'm closer now. But it's difficult to say now. The forecast says it will rain tomorrow. I hope it won't be like this. If I start well and if it's dry, I will try to push from the start and try to manage a gap. But if it's wet it will be another story. You can't push like you want at the start, you have to control the situation more. So, it can be totally different.”- Francesco Bagnai / Ducati Lenovo / 1'30.450s
- Jack Miller / Ducati Lenovo / +0.069s
- Aleix Espargaro / Aprilia Racing / +0.159s
- Fabio Quartararo / Monster Yamaha / +0.238s
- Enea Bastianini / Gresini Ducati / +0.261s
- Joan Mir / Suzuki Ecstar / +0.493s
- Alex Rins / Suzuki Ecstar / +0.527s
- Jorge Martin / Pramac Ducati / +0.618s
- Johann Zarco / Pramac Ducati / +0.413s
- Marc Marquez / Repsol Honda / +0.698s
- Pol Espargaro / Repsol Honda / +1.076s
- Takaaki Nakagami / LCR Honda / +1.145s
- Marco Bezzecchi / Mooney VR46 Ducati / 1'30.94s
- Maverick Viñales / Aprilia Racing / 1'31.271s
- Luca Marini / Mooney VR46 Ducati / 1'31.363s
- Fabio Di Giannantonio / Gresini Ducati / 1'31.487s
- Miguel Oliveira / Red Bull KTM / 1'31.547s
- Brad Binder / Red Bull KTM / 1'31.61s
- Franco Morbidelli / Monster Yamaha / 1'31.617s
- Andrea Dovizioso / WithU Yamaha RNF / 1'31.618s
- Alex Marquez / LCR Honda / 1'31.763s
- Remy Gardner / KTM Tech3 / 1'31.82s
- Darryn Binder / WithU Yamaha RNF / 1'32.596s
- Raul Fernandez / KTM Tech3 / 1'32.767s
Photo by MotoGP- source : MotoGP