Zarco claims surprise pole at Brno

Zarco charges to his 5th career pole

Johann Zarco claimed an unbelievable first pole position since the 2018 Malaysian GP in a stunning MotoGP Q2 at the Monster Energy Czech Republic Grand Prix.

Championship leader Fabio Quartararo will start second after crashing on his final flying lap, with his teammate Franco Morbidelli lining up on the outside of the front row.

A fifth career MotoGP pole position for Zarco – having achieved four with Tech 3 Yamaha in 2017 and 2018 – it is nonetheless a big upset the only true privateer team on the grid, Avintia Racing.

Championship leader Quartararo might have won pole but when he attempted to try a second lap on the same tires the bike slipped out from under him coming into the final corner, and he went down and into the Turn 13 gravel and had to settle for 2nd best.

Quartararo's Factory Yamaha teammate Franco Morbidelli was third to complete the front row.

Aleix Espargaro put his Aprilia fourth on the second row in fourth, while Maverick Vinales will start in fifth position on the Monster Yamaha.

Pol Espargaro had his best time deleted to deny him a spot on the front row, but he still gets underway from sixth, just ahead of impressive KTM team-mate Brad Binder, who made it through Q1 to place his RC16 seventh.

Valentino Rossi was a disappointed P10 after showing signs that he can mix it for the front row during practice, The Doctor is on Row 4 alongside Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Crutchlow. The latter duo are still riding with injuries sustained in Jerez, so P11 and P12 is a heroic effort from the Spaniard and British rider.

Qualifying Results

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