Quartararo Shocks Jerez for First Pole Since 2022

Fabio Quartararo stuns Jerez with a record-breaking lap, taking Yamaha’s first MotoGP pole since 2022 and dethroning Marc Marquez.

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Class is permanent, and Fabio Quartararo just proved it. In a breathtaking qualifying session at the Estrella Galicia 0,0 Grand Prix of Spain, the 2021 MotoGP World Champion delivered a late stunner, snatching pole position with a record-breaking lap at the iconic Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto.

It marks not only Quartararo’s first pole since 2022, but also Yamaha’s return to the front row after a long drought, toppling Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) on home soil and setting the stage for a blockbuster Spanish Grand Prix.

Q1: Big Names, Bigger Heartbreaks

The opening qualifying session was always going to be ruthless, packed with heavyweights fighting for just two tickets to Q2. Early flyers Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) held the provisional transfer spots, but the likes of Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) and Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3) kept the pressure high.

A fall for Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia Racing) at Turn 9 triggered yellow flags and disrupted key laps, but ultimately Viñales pushed harder, improving his time late on to comfortably book a Q2 spot. Bezzecchi hung on for second, while others — including Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), sidelined after an FP2 crash — fell short.

Q2: A Pole Battle for the Ages

Q2 exploded into action as Marc Marquez set an early benchmark, smashing the lap record with a blistering 1:35.643 on his first flying lap, shadowed by brother Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP). Behind them, Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), Quartararo, Bagnaia, and Viñales were locked in a high-speed chess match, each waiting for the final showdown.

As the minutes ticked down, the drama only intensified.

Final Minutes: Quartararo Delivers the Masterstroke

Marc Marquez looked ready to extend his perfect 2025 pole record, leading the charge in typical #93 fashion — until a crucial mistake in the final sector cost him dearly.
Enter Fabio Quartararo.

On a final flying lap that will be replayed for years, “El Diablo” unleashed everything, carving through the Spanish heat to break Marquez’s record and steal pole. The packed Jerez crowd erupted, and for the first time since Mandalika 2022, Yamaha was back where it belongs — at the front.

It’s also a personal milestone for Quartararo: his fifth career pole at Jerez, the track where he scored both his first pole (2019) and his first premier class win (2020).

Bagnaia, despite a strong late push, couldn’t dislodge his teammate Marquez and will start third, keeping Ducati’s hopes alive for another dominant race.

How the Grid Shapes Up

• Front Row: Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha), Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo), Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo)
• Second Row: Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing), Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46), Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3)
• Third Row: Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing, best rookie), Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46), Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol)

Just outside the top nine, Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) leads the fourth row, alongside Bezzecchi and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).

What’s Next

With tensions sky-high and the grid packed with title contenders and emerging threats, the Tissot Sprint promises fireworks at 15:00 (UTC+2). After today’s qualifying thriller, one thing’s certain: Jerez is about to witness another classic.