MotoGP: Espargaro wins wet Valencia pole, Quartararo choking

The title chase leader then improved his time to go P3 as Dovizioso’s time was only good enough for P12. Rins was through the third split 0.041 under Nakagami’s time and the number 42 beat the Honda rider by 0.005 seconds. Nakagami then crashed at the final corner which brought out some yellow flags, Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) flew across the line to go provisional P4.

It was all kicking off in the final minute though. Rins was once more going faster and was 0.079 seconds under but there was a flying orange machine about to go top of the tree: Pol Espargaro. The Spaniard, who picked up his and KTM’s first MotoGP™ podium at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in 2018, was pole position – for now. Could Rins ruin KTM’s party? Not quite, 0.041 was the gap between the compatriots as attentions turned to Zarco.

The Frenchman was flying. Zarco was 0.196 up through Sector 3 but a small mistake at the final corner saw the Ducati man lose time, the number 5 went P4 as the front row riders remained the same. Could Rins make one last-ditch attempt to snatch pole away from Pol Espargaro? Not quite, it was another good lap from Rins but the Suzuki rider settled for P2, Oliveira improved on his last lap to go P8.

A breathless wet qualifying session ends with Pol Espargaro and KTM on top. The number 44 earns his second pole position of the season as Rins claims his second consecutive front row – the same can be said for Nakagami. Three manufacturers lead the line from the top three positions and all three are looking strong in Valencia, two of them could become the ninth different winner of 2020 on Sunday.

Zarco was unlucky to miss out on the front row but after negotiating Q1, the double Moto2™ World Champion will be happy with P4. Championship leader Mir will launch from P5 after a solid afternoon’s work on home soil, Aleix Espargaro joins Mir on Row 2 and that’s the Aprilia rider’s best Saturday afternoon outing since his P4 at the Czech GP earlier this year. After showing strong pace all weekend, Miller settled for P7. Eighth place Oliveira was the only other rider to get within a second of Pol Espargaro and next to the Portuguese rider on the grid is leading Yamaha rider Morbidelli in ninth. The Italian has some work to do on Sunday afternoon as he sees Mir and Rins ahead of him, but crucially, there are three title contenders behind him.