Italian rider Marco Bezzecchi of Mooney VR46 Racing clinched pole position at the first-ever Indian Grand Prix, narrowly beating Prima Pramac’s Jorge Martin by a mere 0.043 seconds. Bezzecchi showcased his dominance throughout the weekend at the Buddh International Circuit, topping the time charts in all sessions leading up to qualifying.
Bezzecchi’s Triumph and Ducati’s Strong Front Row
After leading the final practice session, Bezzecchi faced stiff competition from Martin but managed to secure his third pole of the season, marking his first since the British Grand Prix. Reigning world champion Francesco Bagnaia, who had a challenging Friday, claimed the final spot on the front row for the factory Ducati team.
Honda’s Surprising Performance
In a surprising turn of events, both factory Honda riders, Joan Mir and Marc Marquez, made it to Q2 for the first time this season and secured fifth and sixth positions on the grid, respectively.
Alex Marquez’s Unfortunate Crash
Unfortunately, Gresini Racing’s Alex Marquez suffered a crash at the end of Q1, causing him to miss Q2. He required medical evaluation, which ultimately revealed fractures to his ribs.
Bezzecchi and Martin’s Duel
The battle for pole position between Bezzecchi and Martin heated up in Q2. Bezzecchi initially set the pace with a 1m44.733s lap, but Martin quickly surpassed him with a 1m44.521s. The two traded the top spot during their flying laps, with Bezzecchi eventually breaking the 1m 44s barrier, setting a blistering 1m 43.947s lap, securing the pole.
Front Row Lineup
Despite his best efforts, Martin couldn’t outdo Bezzecchi and settled for second place with a 1m43.990s lap. Bagnaia completed the front row with a 1m 44.203s lap. Luca Marini, riding for Mooney VR46 Ducati, secured fourth position on the grid, followed by Mir and Marquez.
Mir’s Strong Performance
Joan Mir’s impressive performance earned him his best qualifying result since 2022, securing fifth position on the grid. Johann Zarco, on the sister Pramac Ducati, claimed seventh place, with Fabio Quartararo from Yamaha and the Aprilia duo of Maverick Vinales and Aleix Espargaro following closely.
Challenging Qualifying for Some
The Q1 session proved challenging, with RNF Aprilia’s Raul Fernandez leading ahead of Alex Marquez. Yellow flags during the session affected Fabio Di Giannantonio, who missed out on Q2 by a mere 0.010s. Brad Binder, from KTM, also faced challenges in qualifying, securing the 14th position.
Completing the Field
Franco Morbidelli secured 17th position on his Yamaha, followed by Tech3’s Augusto Fernandez and RNF’s Miguel Oliveira. Tech3’s Pol Espargaro, Stefan Bradl (LCR), and Michele Pirro (Ducati) rounded off the field.
The Indian Grand Prix promises an exciting race day, with Bezzecchi, Martin, and Bagnaia leading the charge from the front row.