MotoGP

Dovizioso Snatches Last Gasp Pole at Brno

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Andrea Dovizioso - Brno - Pole Position
Andrea Dovizioso - Photo Credit: Ducati

Andrea Dovizioso claimed his first pole position since Malaysia 2016 after a thrilling finish to qualifying at Brno. The Italian also handed the factory Ducati team their first pole position of the 2018 season with Valentino Rossi alongside on the front row while championship leader Marc Marquez lines up third.

The early part of qualifying had been dominated by the other factory Ducati with Lorenzo following up Marquez’s initial effort with a lap half a second quicker, registering a 1:55.059. Pole position already looked out of reach given the soaring temperatures, but Marquez was able to make sufficient progress on his second run, becoming the first rider to break the 1:55 barrier.

Ultimately, the horsepower of the Ducati made the difference for Dovizioso as the 32-year-old produced a lap just fractionally slower than the all-time Brno qualifying record. Marquez was usurped by a quarter of a second and to make matters worse for the Honda man, he was demoted to third by his nearest championship rival as Rossi stole second by five thousandths of a second.

Lorenzo dropped to fourth while Cal Crutchlow secured fifth ahead of the Pramac Ducati of Danilo Petrucci. Johann Zarco will start seventh ahead of the Suzukis of Andrea Iannone and Alex Rins while Friday pacesetter Dani Pedrosa could only manage tenth. Compatriot Maverick Vinales also endured a difficult day, having to navigate his way through Q1 before qualifying twelfth.

 

2018 Monster Energy Grand Prix Ceske Republiky: (Qualifying)

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