- 2023-11-26
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SPORTS
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MotoGP Valencia GP: Maverick Vinales Takes Pole Position, Jorge Martin Wins Sprint Race in Valencia
The Round 20 of MotoGP 2023, Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana took place at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Cheste on November 25, 2023.
In Qualifying, Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) took his first pole position of the season with a lap record 1'28.931 seconds. This marks his first polo position in two years since Assen GP in 2021.
World Champion contender Francesco Bagnaia advanced to Q2 from Q 1 and took the first position with a lap record 1m29.167s at the time, but finally finished 2nd behind Maverick Viñales by 0.092s. Johann Zarco (Pramac Ducati) was 3rd.
Red Bull KTM duo Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM) and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) were 4th and 5th, respectively.
Another title contender Jorge Martin (Pramac Ducati) suffered a vibration problem on the front of his number one bike, and finished 6th.
Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Ducati), Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati), and Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) will start on the third row on Sunday.
Maverick Vinales said, “We missed something during the rest of the season unfortunately. We're understanding the setting and the balance of the bike. In Qatar and over here, we've done a really good job.”
In the Sprint Race, Jorge Martin took back-to-back wins following Qatar GP. It is his ninth victory of the season.
While, Francesco Bagnaia finished 5th and his title lead was reduced with Jorge Martin to 14 points.
However, if Francesco Bagnaia finishes 5th tomorrow, he will be World Champion even if Jorge Martin wins the race.
Brad Binder crossed the line 0.190s adrift in second. Marquez took the final podium as Honda rider ahead of poleman Maverick Viñales, who finished 4th.
Qatar GP winner Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Ducati) was 6th. Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Ducati), Alex Marquez, Johann Zarco, and Augusto Fernandez (Tech3 GASGAS) rounded out the top 10.
Jorge Martin told Autosport, “I think I did an amazing job and I had big balls today because my feeling was so bad with the front, with the rear. But I pushed to the limit every corner to fight for that victory, so that's what I was so, so happy. I need to be happy about the result again and be proud about our job, because tomorrow we don't know what's going to happen. I think I was riding alone all morning, so I was feeling I could manage to understand how to ride, being really smooth with the tyres and I was making really good pace. But when you are behind and you have to push more than you think and change the lines, it becomes really complicated. I think also behind people, everything gets hot and nothing works. But when I was in front it was much easier. I don't feel 100% confident, but when I was behind I felt much worse.”
Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana Qualifying Results- Maverick Viñales / Aprilia Racing / 1'28.931s
- Francesco Bagnaia / Ducati Lenovo / +0.092s
- Johann Zarco / Pramac Ducati / +0.213s
- Jack Miller / Red Bull KTM / +0.230s
- Brad Binder / Red Bull KTM / +0.240s
- Jorge Martin / Pramac Ducati / +0.251s
- Marco Bezzecchi / Mooney VR46 Ducati / +0.292s
- Alex Marquez / Gresini Ducati / +0.330s
- Marc Marquez / Repsol Honda / +0.344s
- Raul Fernandez / RNF Aprilia / +0.507s
- Fabio Di Giannantonio / Gresini Ducati / +0.579s
- Aleix Espargaro / Aprilia Racing / +0.866s
- Augusto Fernandez / Tech3 GASGAS / 1'29.233s
- Enea Bastianini / Ducati Lenovo / 1'29.389s
- Fabio Quartararo / Monster Yamaha / 1'29.613s
- Takaaki Nakagami / LCR Honda / 1'29.864s
- Luca Marini / Mooney VR46 Ducati / 1'29.901s
- Pol Espargaro / Tech3 GASGAS / 1'29.953s
- Franco Morbidelli / Monster Yamaha / 1'30.045s
- Alex Rins / LCR Honda / 1'30.257s
- Lorenzo Savadori / RNF Aprilia / 1'31.044s
Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana Sprint Race Results- Jorge Martin / Pramac Ducati / 19m 38.827s
- Brad Binder / Red Bull KTM / +0.190s
- Marc Marquez / Repsol Honda / +2.122s
- Maverick Viñales / Aprilia Racing / +3.106s
- Francesco Bagnaia / Ducati Lenovo / +4.253s
- Fabio Di Giannantonio / Gresini Ducati / +4.400s
- Marco Bezzecchi / Mooney VR46 Ducati / +4.502s
- Alex Marquez / Gresini Ducati / +5.578s
- Johann Zarco / Pramac Ducati / +5.910s
- Augusto Fernandez / Tech3 GASGAS / +6.095s
- Raul Fernandez / RNF Aprilia / +7.674s
- Jack Miller / Bull KTM / +8.098s
- Aleix Espargaro / Aprilia Racing / +9.513s
- Pol Espargaro / Tech3 GASGAS / +12.453s
- Enea Bastianini / Ducati Lenovo / +12.599s
- Takaaki Nakagami / LCR Honda / +13.787s
- Luca Marini / Mooney VR46 Ducati / +13.887s
- Franco Morbidelli / Monster Yamaha / +14.943s
- Alex Rins / LCR Honda / +20.378s
- Lorenzo Savadori / RNF Aprilia / +25.017s
Photo by MotoGP- source : MotoGP
