MotoGP defined on Friday (28) the ten riders who earned direct entry to Q2, the final phase of the session that will determine the grids for both the Sprint and the Aragón Grand Prix. The 13th round of the season is contested at MotorLand, the race track located in the Spanish city of Alcañiz, and it saw Marco Bezzecchi secure his place with the best time, clocking 1:45.455, a track record, aboard an Aprilia.
The second spot went to Álex Márquez, rider for Gresini, the satellite Ducati outfit, who was beaten by Bezzecchi by just 0.010 seconds. Marc Márquez, aboard a factory Ducati, was also assured a direct pass to Q2, as was Fabio Di Giannantonio, another Ducati—this one from VR46—and Fermín Aldeguer, who completed the top five on the other Gresini Ducati.
Raúl Fernández, on an Aprilia from Trackhouse, was the sixth fastest and is another Q2 qualifier, as was Jorge Martín, the championship leader and a rider for Aprilia. Pedro Acosta, on a KTM, secured a place in the final qualifying round with eighth position, while Franco Morbidelli, from VR46, and Johann Zarco, back on the grid with LCR Honda, complete the Q2 lineup.
The Brazilian Diogo Moreira came very close to advancing directly to Q2, but was overtaken by Zarco, his teammate at LCR Honda, finishing 11th and thus having to compete in the opening phase of the session that determines the starting order. The same happened to Francesco Bagnaia, who finished 13th with Ducati.
In MotoGP, the second practice on Friday defines the ten riders who advance to the decisive qualifying round, the one that awards pole. The other competitors take part in Q1, which yields only two spots for Q2. The results of the session set the grid for the Sprint on Saturday and the main race on Sunday.
The MotoGP schedule will resume on Saturday, starting at 5:10 a.m., with one more free practice. The qualifying is scheduled for 5:50 a.m., while the Sprint takes the starting flag at 10:00 a.m. The Aragón Grand Prix begins at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday.
