Misano San Marino MotoGP Sunday Guide

Misano San Marino 2018 MotoGP Sunday Guide

Jorge Lorenzo has qualified on pole position for the third time this season and the 68^th in his Grand Prix career. This is Lorenzo’s first back-to-back pole position since joining Ducati in 2017 and his first overall since the final race of 2015 and the opening race of 2016.

MotoGP Rnd Misano Lorenzo — Jorge Lorenzo

This is the first back-to-back pole position for Ducati since the final race of 2009 and the opening race of 2010, both with Casey Stoner. This is the third pole position from a Ducati rider in the MotoGP class at Misano, along with Casey Stoner in both 2007 and 2008.

On Jorge Lorenzo’s last three pole positions at Misano in the premier class, he finished on the podium twice with a second place in 2014 and a third in 2016.

Dani Pedrosa, in 2010, is the last rider to win the MotoGP race at the San Marino GP after qualifying in pole position.

MotoGP Rnd Misano Day Dani Pedrosa — Dani Pedrosa – MotoGP 2018 Round 13 Misano

Jack Miller starts from second on the grid as the top Independent Team rider, which is his best qualifying result since he was on pole in Argentina earlier this year and his second front-row start on what is his 60^th Grand Prix race in the premier class.

MotoGP Rnd Austria Miller GP AN — Jack Miller – Image by AJRN

With Jorge Lorenzo and Jack Miller, this is the fifth Ducati 1–2 in the MotoGP™ class and the first in back-to-back Grand Prix events.

The highest-placed Yamaha rider on the grid is Maverick Viñales in third place. This is his best qualifying result since he was also third at Mugello earlier this year.

MotoGP Rnd Misano Day Pole — Jack Miller, Jorge Lorenzo and Maverick Vinales – MotoGP 2018 Round 13 Misano

Heading the second row on the grid is Andrea Dovizioso, who crossed the line in third place last year at the San Marino GP.

Marc Márquez has qualified in fifth place on the grid, which is his worst qualifying result at Misano since he stepped up to the MotoGP class in 2013. This is the sixth time this year he failed to qualify on the front row, equalling his highest tally from 2016. He won the race last year at the San Marino GP in wet-weather conditions, taking the lead on the final lap.

MotoGP Rnd Misano Day marc marquez san marino gp — Marc Marquez – MotoGP 2018 Round 13 Misano

Cal Crutchlow completes the second row on the grid, which is his worst qualifying result since he was the seventh-fastest qualifier in Germany earlier this year.

Heading the third row is Valentino Rossi, who is back at Misano after missing the race last year due to a leg injury. This is Rossi’s worst qualifying at his home track since 2011 when he was 11^th on the grid riding a Ducati.

MotoGP Rnd Misano Day Valentino Rossi — Valentino Rossi – MotoGP 2018 Round 13 Misano

Danilo Petrucci, who fought for the win until the final lap last year at Misano from eighth on the grid, has also qualified eighth this year.

Third Yamaha rider on the grid, Johann Zarco starts from ninth. He scored one point last year at Misano after pushing his bike across the line to finish in 15^th place.

MotoGP Rnd Austria Zarco GP AN — Johann Zarco

The highest-placed Suzuki rider is Álex Rins, 10^th on the grid for the third successive time. Rins won twice in the Moto3 at the San Marino GP, in 2013 and 2014.

MotoGP Rnd Misano Day alex rins — Alex Rins – MotoGP 2018 Round 13 – Misano

After passing through Q1 for the fifth time this year, Dani Pedrosa, who won in both 2010 and 2016 at Misano, has qualified in 11^th place on the grid.

Franco Morbidelli, who starts from 12^th on the grid, is the second of the five rookies this year – along with Takaaki Nakagami – to have joined Q2 more than once.

The lightweight class goes racing at the San Marino GP at 11:00 local time (GMT +2). The intermediate Moto2 class goes into battle at 12:20 local time (GMT +2). The lights go out at 14:00 (GMT +2) for the premiere MotoGP class.