Aragon MotoGP qualifying
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So that's a wrap from qualifying, as the mega-entertaining Lorenzo/Dovizioso/Marquez duel continues - as does Yamaha's truly abject form.
See you tomorrow for what will hopefully be another classic scrap, and in the meantime check Autosport and Motorsport.com for developing news and reaction.
See you tomorrow for what will hopefully be another classic scrap, and in the meantime check Autosport and Motorsport.com for developing news and reaction.
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Lorenzo: "The problem was, too much traffic, too many traffic jams, like Moto3, was difficult to keep the concentration, because I knew if I didn't improve the laptime, I could be in second row, so I must push.
"But I didn't have the same tyre, because three laps, you didn't have the same performance as the first tyre, and also I didn't know if they wanted to push in the last lap or they wanted to play around.
"Finally, luckily for me, they push and I had free way. But difficult maybe for 46.8 because the rear tyre was sliding a lot."
"But I didn't have the same tyre, because three laps, you didn't have the same performance as the first tyre, and also I didn't know if they wanted to push in the last lap or they wanted to play around.
"Finally, luckily for me, they push and I had free way. But difficult maybe for 46.8 because the rear tyre was sliding a lot."
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Dovizioso: "Well, the laptime was faster than what I expected, so I'm really happy. Really happy also because I couldn't find a clean lap and I had to overtake Alvaro, so I lose for sure something.
"Overall the feeling is really good, especially in free practice four, we improve again, a little bit pace for the race. And we have really good pace.
"The life of the tyre we will understand during the race, but the speed is there.
"Overall the feeling is really good, especially in free practice four, we improve again, a little bit pace for the race. And we have really good pace.
"The life of the tyre we will understand during the race, but the speed is there.
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Marquez: "Here the slipstream makes a lot, especially if you can take a Ducati slipstream, because they are incredible fast on the back straight, they gain many many tenths there.
"For that reason I was waiting a little bit Dovi, and in fact I was well on that last lap, in good shape, but I did a few mistakes there, and especially a big mistake in Turn 12, I was too wide.
"Then I said 'okay, time to do the thing for tomorrow'. But, yeah, it's like last races, two Ducatis and me, so we will try to be competitive tomorrow."
"For that reason I was waiting a little bit Dovi, and in fact I was well on that last lap, in good shape, but I did a few mistakes there, and especially a big mistake in Turn 12, I was too wide.
"Then I said 'okay, time to do the thing for tomorrow'. But, yeah, it's like last races, two Ducatis and me, so we will try to be competitive tomorrow."
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Marquez's pole chance got away from him when he went in too hot into Turn 12, just as Dovizioso crucially passed Bautista up ahead.
Information
Final Q2 order: 1 Lorenzo; 2 Dovizioso; 3 Marquez; 4 Crutchlow; 5 Iannone; 6 Pedrosa; 7 Petrucci; 8 Bautista; 9 Rins; 10 Miller; 11 Vinales; 12 Nakagami.
It will be a Jorge Lorenzo, Andrea Dovizioso, Marc Marquez front row on the grid tomorrow. What a show.
Stopwatch
But Lorenzo is even quicker, firing in a 1m46.881s!
Stopwatch
Dovizioso does it! 1m46.895s.
Marquez has had to roll out of it. But Dovizioso and Lorenzo are still gunning for pole.
Crash
Crutchlow is down.
Marquez and Dovizioso are smack dab in the middle of the pack, running behind Bautista. Despite this, they're both up after two sectors.
Checkered flag
A huge train of bikes, led by Vinales, kicks off the final attempts, shortly before the chequered flag waves.
A minute left on the clock. Nobody is improving as it stands, but everyone should get another shot.
Crutchlow pulls the pin and goes for a flying lap. Dovizioso rolls out, giving up his penultimate lap, while Marquez then overshoots his entry into Turn 1.
Oh this is just a complete mess. Six to eight bikes are absolutely crawling on the straight.
Curiously, Marquez is now tucked in behind Dovizioso. They're clearly playing games, going slow, fast, slow, fast, as Dovizioso tries to shake off the Honda rider.
Crutchlow, Marquez and Nakagami emerge in formation. Will the championship leader try to drag some fellow Honda bikes further up the grid?
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With five minutes and a half left on the clock, Pramac rider Miller is first to begin his second run.
There's just over a tenth between Marquez and Lorenzo, and another tenth from there to Crutchlow, Dovizioso and Iannone.
The session passes its halfway point as the pack arrives to the pits to change bikes and/or fit new tyres.
Information
Your order after the first flying laps: 1 Marquez; 2 Lorenzo; 3 Crutchlow; 4 Dovizioso; 5 Iannone; 6 Petrucci; 7 Pedrosa; 8 Bautista; 9 Miller; 10 Vinales; 11 Rins; 12 Nakagami.
Stopwatch
He loses time in the end but still improves marginally, posting a 1m46.960s.
Marquez is on a blinder, he's a quarter of a second up after two sectors - with Iannone tucked in behind.
A big wobble for Lorenzo exiting the final corner, and he comes up a tenth short of Marquez's time.
Stopwatch
Marquez divebombs Iannone down the inside of Turn 16 en route to a superb 1m46.974s.
Marquez has more or less shaken off his followers, but he has now come up on a noticeably slower Iannone.
There's a whole lot of tow artistry going on. Marquez starts his flying lap and he's followed close by Bautista and Nakagami.
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Lorenzo waits in the pitlane and emerges on track last, after a minute has elapsed.
Green flag
The 15-minute pole shoot-out is now underway.
Information
Q2 line-up: Marquez; Lorenzo; Dovizioso; Crutchlow; Iannone; Petrucci; Pedrosa; Bautista; Miller; Rins; Vinales; Nakagami.
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This is Valentino Rossi's worst qualifying since Assen 2006 (!) and will be his worst starting spot since he was sent to the back of the grid at Valencia in 2015.
Zarco very nearly hit the deck at Turn 14 and then Turn 16 on his final push lap, which almost certainly cost him a Q2 spot.
Information
Q1 results: 1 Vinales; 2 Nakagami; 3 Morbidelli; 4 Zarco; 5 A Espargaro; 6 Smith; 7 Abraham; 8 Rossi; 9 Syahrin; 10 Luthi; 11 Redding; 12 Simeon; 13 Torres.
It's Maverick Vinales and Takaaki Nakagami advancing to Q2 after a bizarre conclusion to the opening qualifying segment.
By: Matt Beer
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