As the first qualifying session commenced for the second half of the MotoGP field, it was announced by Race Officials that Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS rider was ‘declared unfit for the GP due to fracture of the 5th metatarsal of the right foot sustained in FP1 crash’. Miller had been seen around the paddock on crutches, however, his team boss indicated that it was ankle that was causing him more grief; Miller had an accident over the winter which resulted in an operation on his ankle which flared up as a result of the high-side.
Monster Tech 3 Yamaha rider Bradley Smith, who has not been happy or comfortable throughout practice, claimed the top spot half way through the qualifying one session. But he was pipped to the post by his teammate Pol Espargaro who just managed to lap under 2:05 on his next lap.
Team Suzuki Ecstar rider Aleix Espargaro made his best attempt to progress through to Q2 on his last lap; he ended up going fastest with a time of 2:04.849, knocking Smith out of the top two, however, Smith was on one last flying lap. The British rider finished with a time of 2:04.740 putting him back at the top. Pol Espargaro was unable to improve and his brother Aleix remained faster than him and so the Suzuki rider went through to Q2 with Smith.
Octo Pramac rider Michele Pirro (replacing injured Danilo Petrucci) crashed out at the end of the session and was unable to continue in the qualifying session. During their final lap, Alvaro Bautista (Aprilia) and Hector Barbera (Avintia Ducati) had one final chance on the track to progress and looked like they were on form to lap fastest, however, it turned into more of a race situation as the two spoiled each other’s chances of progressing. Barbera was not impressed as he gestured to Barbera on the out lap.
Movistar Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo set out determined to steal Marc Marquez’s crown in Qualifying 2, and straight away with his first fast lap, Lorenzo lapped with a time of 2:03.613 which was now the fastest lap of the weekend so far. Marquez soon retaliated on the qualifying tyres and snatched pole position back improving on Lorenzo’s time by 0.425 seconds; his time of 2:03.188 meant with seven minutes to go there were 1.167 seconds between first and third place holder Movistar Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi.
Marquez returned to the pits as Lorenzo continued to improve on track. Lorenzo was so tidy as he circulated round COTA however he lost time in the final two sectors and could not yet take pole from Marquez’s grasp. Marquez returned to the track in his reckless manner determined to keep pole position ahead of the race. With his second to last lap, Iannone stole third from Rossi knocking him off the front row however Rossi set another personal best and claimed his place back.
The flag went out and Marquez was flying, however, the fourth sector stopped him from improving his pole position time of 2:03.188. He finished ahead of Lorenzo and Rossi completed the first row. Iannone was the fastest Ducati qualifying fourth on the grid ahead of the fastest Suzuki Vinales (who was clearly not happy with the result) and the second fastest Honda and top independent rider Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda).
Andrea Dovizioso leads the third row ahead of Pedrosa whose last lap seen him also lose a lot of time in the fourth sector to finish eighth on the grid ahead of Aleix Espargaro. Despite looking strong in FP4, Scott Redding (Octo Pramac Yakhnich Ducati) could not improve in the end on tenth; Smith follows in eleventh ahead of Avintia Ducati rider Loris Baz in twelfth.
Pol Espargaro remains in thirteenth position after Q1 ahead of Barbera and Aspar Team MotoGP rider Eugene Laverty who finished as the top independent rider in Argentina. Stefan Bradl (Aprilia) claimed fourteenth ahead of Pirro, Yonny Hernandez (Aspar Team MotoGP), Bautista and Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS rider Tito Rabat who completes the grid as his teammate cannot compete in the race.
