- 2022-08-07
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Donate to support families affected by the crisis in Ukraine ➔ MotoGP British: Johann Zarco Takes Pole Position with New Lap Record at Silverstone
The Round 12 of MotoGP 2022, Monster Energy British Grand Prix took place at Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire, the UK on August 6, 2022.
Before the event, Andrea Dovizioso (WithU Yamaha RNF) announced that he will retire from MotoGP after the San Marino GP in September.
Yamaha’s Official Test Rider, Cal Crutchlow, will replace him for the final six rounds of the season, starting at the Aragon GP.
Johann Zarco (Pramac Ducati) took pole position with a new lap record 1m57.767s.
This marks his second pole position of 2022 season following Portuguese GP.
2nd place was Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing), who showed the best result of qualifying in 2022. It is his first front row since claiming pole at the 2021 Dutch TT.
Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo) was 3rd, which is his third front row start of 2022, following Americas GP and French GP.
Three main title contenders line up on the second row, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Yamaha), Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo), and Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing).
And after huge crash in FP4, Aleix Espargaro rescued a heroic P6 and finished just 0.199s away from pole.
Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Ducati), Enea Bastianini (Gresini Ducati) and Jorge Martin (Pramac Ducati) will start on 3rd row tomorrow.
Stefan Bradl (Repsol Honda) has been given a three-place grid penalty for 'riding slow on the line and disturbing another rider' in Q1.
Johann Zarco said, “From Friday I have been quite fast and getting a good step from Friday to Saturday means that I have more chances than usual to think about the victory. Pole position is a good confirmation. Pace in FP4 looks also quite good, so why not hope [for] this victory? But clearly [I've] got full focus on it and let's see how the others will be strong in the race. I hope I can get this advantage on the hard rear to get a nice present at the end. [It's a] nice feeling because this morning already I could think about this lap under '58, but I had a crash. Then in the afternoon during FP4, it was a good lap time with the hard rear tyre. Then when I moved to the soft one for the qualifying I was feeling quite good on the bike. The first lap, a 1m58.4s, was already good, and I was feeling that there is something extra to do. On the second tyre, the good lap, Jack [Miller] and Fabio was a bit in front, so it was a great reference to have this motivation. Really happy that just on the first lap of the tyre, that I think is the moment for the tyre, was the best performance I could do. We know Fabio has the long-lap to do but fortunately for him, this long-lap at Silverstone is the shortest that we have in all the season it seems. He will lose time, but he can still think to fight for the podium I guess. Jack [Miller] loves this track, Maverick is feeling good on the Aprilia and Aleix is always pretty strong, he had this huge crash so we will see how he feels tomorrow. Pecco we know that sometimes he can be very strong. We have to use this advantage of the pole position, Aprilia in time attack have good feeling on the hard rear tyre, but tomorrow should be a bit warmer temperature so even more possibility to use this hard rear. If I have an advantage, I will try to take it.”
Monster Energy British Grand Prix Qualifying Results- Johann Zarco / Pramac Ducati / 1'57.767s
- Maverick Viñales / Aprilia Racing / +0.098s
- Jack Miller / Ducati Lenovo / +0.164s
- Fabio Quartararo / Monster Yamaha / +0.171s
- Francesco Bagnaia / Ducati Lenovo / +0.194s
- Aleix Espargaro / Aprilia Racing / +0.199s
- Marco Bezzecchi / Mooney VR46 Ducati / +0.334s
- Enea Bastianini / Gresini Ducati / +0.339s
- Jorge Martin / Pramac Ducati / +0.407s
- Luca Marini / Mooney VR46 Ducati / +0.550s
- Alex Rins / Suzuki Ecstar / +0.551s
- Joan Mir / Suzuki Ecstar / +0.776s
- Miguel Oliveira / Red Bull KTM / 1'58.853s
- Brad Binder / Red Bull KTM / 1'58.932s
- Fabio Di Giannantonio / Gresini Ducati / 1'58.948s
- Remy Gardner / KTM Tech3 / 1'59.12s
- Alex Marquez / LCR Honda / 1'59.288s
- Pol Espargaro / Repsol Honda / 1'59.367s
- Franco Morbidelli / Monster Yamaha / 1'59.39s
- Takaaki Nakagami / LCR Honda / 1'59.614s
- Stefan Bradl / Repsol Honda / 1'59.339s
- Raul Fernandez / KTM Tech3 / 1'59.92s
- Darryn Binder / WithU Yamaha RNF / 1'59.931s
- Andrea Dovizioso / WithU Yamaha RNF / 2'0.232s
Andrea Dovizioso said, “In 2012, the experience with the Iwata manufacturer in MotoGP had been very positive for me and since then I have always thought that, sooner or later, I would have liked to have an official contract with Yamaha. This possibility presented itself, actually in a somewhat daring way, during 2021. I decided to give it a try because I strongly believed in this project and in the possibility of doing well.”
“Unfortunately, in recent years the MotoGP has changed profoundly. The situation is very different since then: I have never felt comfortable with the bike, and I have not been able to make the most of its potential despite the precious and continuous help from the team and the whole of Yamaha. The results were negative, but beyond that, I still consider it a very important life experience. When there are so many difficulties, you need to have the ability to manage the situation and your emotions well.”
“We did not reach the desired objectives, but the consultations with the Yamaha technicians and with those of my team have always been positive and constructive, both for them and for me. The relationship remained loyal and professionally interesting even in the most critical moments: it was not so obvious that that would happen.”
“For all this and for their support, I thank Yamaha, my team and WithU, and the other sponsors involved in the project. It didn't go as we hoped, but it was right to try. My adventure will end in Misano, but the relationship with all the people involved in this challenge will remain intact forever. Thank you all.”
Photo by MotoGP- source : MotoGP
