Qualifying at Motegi today was held on a damp, but drying track, which made tire choice critical. Rookie Johan Zarco (Yamaha) took pole position with Danilo Petrucci (Ducati) and Marc Marquez (Honda) joining him on the front row tomorrow.
The satellite Yamaha under Zarco turned out to be a far better bike for the conditions than the factory Yamahas under Valentino Rossi (who qualified 12th) and Maverick Viñales (14th). Weather for tomorrow’s race will be an important factor for all of the riders. Currently, the forecast calls for rain at race time tomorrow.
You can find full qualifying results here. Stay tuned for further race coverage on MD.
See more of MD’s great photography:
A little misleading. Marquez, set fastest time with rain tires, then came in to swap to slicks, having put down a fast time, even though he wasn’t perfect on that lap, thinking he had everyone covered, and wanted to understand how the slicks worked on a half wet drying track. Rossi, went out first on slicks, stayed on slicks, never seemed to feel comfortable. I think everyone is looking for how each tire works. Marquez commented his rivals (not Zarco), seemed to be searching for traction, while he wasn’t. They are the ones he is concerned about. Cant wait to watch the race.
Aprilia, four. KTM seven and eight. That’s great to see.
Agreed!
re: “Valentino Rossi (who qualified 12th) and Maverick Viñales (14th)”
(facepalm)
Apparently last years Yamahas are better in the wet than this years Yamahas. Then again Zarco and Petrucci seem to be rain riding specialists.