Alex Marquez takes maiden pole at Catalunya, Alex Rins 3rd
Alex Marquez starred in an excellent qualifying session for the Catalan Grand Prix, setting a perfect lap time to give him pole position and a new circuit record. It is the first pole of his Grand Prix career.
Alex Rins also took a spot on the front row, in third, but his day was tarnished by a heavy crash in the final 5 minutes of the session. The Spaniard suffered three micro-fractures to his left foot, although he will attempt to take the start tomorrow after undergoing physiotherapy.
Wildcard rider Maria Herrera will start from the eighth row, in twenty-fourth.
From the final free practice session it was already evident that Marquez and Rins had made a step forward, finishing first and fourth, respectively. With track temperatures up to almost 50ºC, in qualifying Marquez managed to further lower his best time with a 1’50.232 lap.
That gave him pole, whilst 0.680 slower was teammate Rins in third. Rins’ crash at Turn 4 concluded his day slightly prematurely, and the pain of the three micro-fractures in his left foot will be treated with physio work in order for him to start the race tomorrow.
Maria Herrera continued her learning process and today improved on her Friday times by more than a second. In her second wildcard appearance this season, the Spaniard will start from twenty-fourth.
Alex Rins – 3th – 1:50.912 – 30 laps – 142 km
“I feel good. It was a heavy fall and I was taken to the circuit medical centre, where Dr. Xavier Mir confirmed that I have three small fractures to my left foot. Luckily it isn’t serious and they are just microfractures. With the help of physio work it is very probable that I will race tomorrow. I was transfered to the Quiron Dexeus Hospital to take a CAT scan as a precaution, but I was never unconscious and I don’t feel sick, so I am calm”.
Alex Marquez – 1st – 1:50.232 – 33 laps – 156 km
“The beginning of the qualifying session was difficult because I came up against a lot of riders waiting around for a tow; that’s a little dangerous. I continued to concentrate to the fullest today, because I knew I could fight for my first pole. I gave the maximum in the final stretch of the session; when I found some space I was able to put a lap in which, although it wasn’t perfect, was good. For tomorrow we have a good pace. Today on used tyres we rode fast, and try to have a good race tomorrow. I hope the weather holds out and we can enjoy a Sunday.”
Maria Herrera – 24th – 1:52.712 – 30 laps – 142 km
“In the morning we concentrated on our lines and we greatly improved. I was fortunate to follow Alex Marquez set a good time. This afternoon the bike would not start at the beginning of the session and I had to go out by myself, without being part of a group. I did not find my pace and was unable to lower my time from the morning. I’m not very happy with my position on the grid, so I’ll have to make a good start.”
Source: Repsol Media
