Best qualifying of the season as Terol and Torres take second row starts at home round

There was the unusual sight of the top two riders in qualifying practice watching the final moments of the session on television today as Pol Espargaró secured pole position and Marc Márquez the second fastest time despite both crashing out. The Spanish pair will line up at opposite ends of the grid, however, with Marquez to start from the back as punishment for an incident in yesterday’s free practice, and they will be joined in the chase for home honours by MAPFRE Aspar riders Nico Terol and Jordi Torres, who line up on the second row in fourth and fifth place respectively.

After qualifying in what was already an excellent fifth and sixth place the MAPFRE Aspar pair gained a position apiece thanks to Marquez’s misfortune, with Terol having shown a sign of things to come this morning when he finished seventh fastest. The local favourite was determined to back up his progress with a top ten grid position this afternoon but he did even better than that with an outstanding performance. After a weekend testing chassis changes Jordi Torres also saved his best for last, sealing an excellent second row start.

4th Nico Terol 1.35.858 (21 laps): “This is my best grid position of the season and I’m really happy about that. The wind was a bit of a problem but I concentrated on putting as consistent rhythm together and to qualify fourth in front of these fans is incredible. Lining up just behind pole is the ideal place to get a good start from and to try and chase the lead group form the first lap. I am two tenths off the second fastest time, my pace was solidly in the low 1’36s and that is a very good sign. I am not thinking about the result tomorrow – I have unfinished business this season and I am looking to take care of it from the start.”

5th Jordi Torres 1.35.915 (21 laps): “We have gone for a different set-up this weekend and it has taken me a while to understand it but we worked things out just in time today. I would like to have taken another step with it but we might have time for that in the warm-up if it doesn’t rain. I am happy with today’s performance, the team worked perfectly and thanks to them I am where I am. It looks like it might rain tomorrow but that shouldn’t be a big problem with the extra grip from the new surface.”

Sourcce: Aspar Team Press Release