Dani Pedrosa claim pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez. Repsol Honda driver beat his teammate Marc Marquez for his first pole for the season. Marquez led the way during the first Q2 runs with a time of 1:38.300 to edge his team-mate by just 0.031s, before emerging for his second effort on his spare bike.
Marc abandoned that run, while Pedrosa went again, clocking a time of 1:38.249 to inch ahead. Marquez tried to displace his team-mate during the closing stages, having returned to his initial bike, but a moment through Turn 12 compromised his prospects and he crossed the line 0.049s in arrears.
It was Pedrosa’s first pole position since 2015. While LCR Honda’s Cal Crutchlow finished third to ensure a front-row lock out for the Japanese manufacturer. Maverick Viñales was never a factor in the pole fight and finished fourth. Andrea Iannone in Suzuki battled his way through Q1 before placing fifth.
Johann Zarco maintained his fine start to his rookie campaign by rounding out the second row of the grid, leaving championship leader Valentino Rossi seventh, and Jorge Lorenzo eighth. Jonas Folger, Jack Miller, Scott Redding and Aleix Espargaró – who crashed at Turn 2 – completed the Q2 contenders.
Danilo Petrucci took 13th place, as the quickest Q1 rider unable to progress through to Q2. Andrea Dovizioso was a low-key 14th in Ducati. KTM displayed its strongest performance since joining the grid full-time this season. Pol Espargaró and Bradley Smith finishing 15th and 16th.
Aspar pair Álvaro Bautista and Karel Abraham took 17th and 19th, split by Marc VDS’ Tito Rabat. Avintia duo Loris Baz and Héctor Barberá were left down in 20th and 21st respectively.
Sam Lowes in Aprilia ran out-of-sequence with his rivals after stopping at pit exit as he attempted to start his first run; the Moto2 graduate took 22nd, ahead of Suzuki debutant Takuya Tsuda.
