Catalunya MotoGP Race Day Guide

Official Statistics compiled by Dr. Martin Raines

Marc Marquez is on pole for the third time in 2016. This is the first time that Marquez has started from pole in the MotoGP class at the Catalunya circuit. Marquez has not had a win at any of the Spanish circuits since he won the final race of the 2014 season at Valencia.
The last Honda rider to win in the premier-class from pole position at the Catalunya circuit was Valentino Rossi in the 500cc class in 2001.
Jorge Lorenzo returns to the front row after missing out at Mugello for the first time in 2016. Lorenzo has won in Catalunya four times in the last six years.

In third place on the grid is Dani Pedrosa – his first front row start of 2016. Pedrosa has finished on the podium for the last four years in Catalunya, but last won at this circuit in 2008. Pedrosa has finished fourth at the last three successive races.
This is the first time this season that Honda have had two riders qualify on the front row of the grid.
The highest Ducati rider in qualifying and the top Independent Team rider, Hector Barbera, heads the second row of the grid. That is his best qualifying result since he had his only front row start in the MotoGP class at Mugello in 2012.

Starting from the middle of the second row is Valentino Rossi, who has won on six occasions in the premier-class at the Catalunya circuit, the last of which was in 2009. Rossi has failed to finish twice in the last four races after only having one none finish in the previous 51 races.
Taking the final place on the second row is Maverick Vinales, who will be aiming to give Suzuki their first podium finish at the Catalunya circuit since Kenny Robert’s victory in the 500cc class back in 2000.
Cal Crutchlow has qualified at the head of the third row of the grid. Crutchlow has failed to finish for the last three years at the Catalan GP.
In eighth place on the grid is Andrea Iannone, who was the first Ducati rider across the line last year in Catalunya in fourth place.

Johann Zarco starts from pole for the first time since the Japanese Grand Prix last year. Zarco won the Moto2 race in Catalunya last year from pole position.
Alex Rins is on the front row for the fourth time in 2016. Rins set a new lap record last year in Catalunya while battling with Zarco for the race win.
Tom Luthi is on the front row for just the second time this year – his other was pole position at Le Mans. Luthi took his first ever GP podium finish at the Catalunya circuit, when he was second in the 125cc class in 2003.
Takaaki Nakagami, who heads the second row of the grid, will be aiming to get back on the podium for the first time since he finished third at Misano last year.
Sam Lowes starts from fifth place on the grid, just the second time this year that he has not qualified on the front row. Lowes has finished on the podium four times in the last five races.
Starting from sixth place on the grid is Axel Pons, who finished sixth two weeks ago at Mugello – his best grand prix result in what was his 116th GP start.
Alex Marquez, the winner of the Moto3 race in Catalunya two years ago, heads the third row of the grid, which is his best qualifying result since he was sixth fastest qualifier in Aragon last year.

Brad Binder starts from pole for only the second time in his career and from the front row for just the fourth time. Binder could become the first rider to win four successive Moto3 grand prix races.
The rider starting on pole has not won in the Moto3 class for the last eleven races. The last time a rider starting a Moto3 race from pole won the race was Enea Bastianini at Misano last year.
Niccolo Antonelli is on the front row for the second time in 2016. Antonelli has not finished on the podium since winning the opening race of the year in Qatar.
In third place on the grid is Jorge Navarro – his fourth front row start of the year. Navarro finished sixth last year in Catalunya, which was his best GP result at that time.
Heading the second row of the grid and highest placed rookie on the grid is Nicolo Bulega.
In fifth place on the grid is Enea Bastianini, who has finished second in Catalunya for the last two years, and is the only rider on the grid who has had a grand prix podium finish at this circuit.
Taking the final place on the second row is Khairul Idham Pawi, who has scored just four points since winning the Moto3 race in Argentina.