Rookie Martin takes shock pole in Doha
Spanish rookie Jorge Martin, riding for Ducati-Pramac, claimed a shock pole position for the Doha MotoGP on Saturday in just his second appearance in the sport’s elite class.
Martin was joined on the front row in yesterday’s late race by teammate Johann Zarco of France and Spain’s Maverick Vinales, the Yamaha rider who won the season opener at the same Losail track last weekend.
“It’s incredible. I didn’t expect to be on pole, rather fourth or fifth,” said the 23-year-old.
“Every day I improve... I’ve been here with the team for one month and I already feel at home.”
As a Moto 3 stalwart, and champion in 2018, Martin was on pole 19 times in 2017 and 2018.
“I’m pretty happy. Below 1 minute 53 was a pretty good target for the first row,” said secondplaced Zarco.
“When I saw that Martin was on pole I was pretty surprised and also happy. It’s going too perfectly for us at Pramac.”
Australia’s Jack Miller, on a factory Ducati, was fifth ahead of Fabio Quartararo of Yamaha and Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia who had been on pole last week.
Italy’s Franco Morbidelli, of Yamaha-SRT, who struggled in 18th place at the Qatar MotoGP last Sunday, was 10th in qualifying.
There was disappointment for seven-time MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi as the 42-yearold Italian qualified in 21st place on the other Yamaha-SRT, the second slowest time on the grid.
Six-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez is still out with a fractured arm after falling last summer.