This is the eighth round of 22 in the MotoGP World Championship. With a time of 1 m 36 s 785/1000, the reigning world champion will start from the leading position for the sprint race this afternoon (3 p.m. in Switzerland) as for the Grand Prix on Sunday.
He was ahead of his Spanish rival Pedro Acosta (KTM) by only 53/1000 at the end of Q2.
“This morning I wanted to be more aggressive on the bike, not to save myself like yesterday, and so I gave everything for pole. We will see about the distance for the two races (sprint and GP) because it could be quite difficult to keep up the pace, but I am aiming for at least the podium, it will depend a lot on the start” explained the seven-time world champion in the category at the microphone of the organizers, while he is still convalescing after a double operation undergone several weeks ago.
For Acosta, who dominated testing on Friday and who will want to beat Marquez, known for his taste for counterclockwise circuits, like Balaton Park, this promises to be difficult.
“I’m happy with this qualification in second position, but Marc will be the man to beat, last year he won the sprint and the race, so it will be difficult for sure” predicted the Murcian at the finish of qualifying.
Fermin Aldeguer (Ducati-Gresini) takes third position on the grid, for a 100% Iberian front row.
The Italians Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) and Luca Marini (Honda), both drafted during Q1, took 5th and 9th places on the grid.
The leader of the world championship, Italian Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia) and his Spanish teammate Jorge Martin, also runner-up in the standings, will start from 6th and 8th positions.
The Australian Jack Miller (Yamaha-Pramac) confirms his status as the most comfortable Yamaha rider on the Hungarian track since Friday, Fabio Quartararo qualifying 15th, just ahead of the Spaniard Iker Lecuona, rider from the Superbike championship who came to freelance in MotoGP to replace Alex Marquez, injured in Catalonia, on the Ducati-Gresini.
The final qualifying session was marked by the bizarre falls, at low speed and practically simultaneous, of Marquez and the Italian Di Giannantonio (Ducati-VR46) from their first spins. Both drivers were able to restart, “Digia” taking 4th position on the grid.
