PORTIMAO, Portugal – Monster Energy Yamaha rider Fabio Quartararo snagged the 11th pole of his career during qualifying for the MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix Saturday.
Quartararo lapped the 2.891-mile, 15-turn Algarve Int’l Circuit in 1:38.862 to become the third MotoGP pole winner in as many rounds this season.
Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Alex Rins was less than a tenth of a second off of Quartararo’s pole-winning time, posting a lap of 1:38.951, with Pramac Racing’s Johann Zarco completing the front row with the third-fastest time of the final qualifying session at 1:38.991.
The result gives three of the major manufacturers – Yamaha, Suzuki and Ducati – representation at the front of the grid for Sunday’s 25-lap headliner.
Factory Ducati rider Jack Miller was fourth in qualifying, just ahead of Petronas Yamaha SRT’s Franco Morbidelli.
Meanwhile, after advancing into Q2 from a frantic Q1 session earlier in the day, Marc Marquez will make his return from injury to Repsol Honda from the sixth starting position.
Aprilia Racing Team Gresini’s Aleix Espargaro, SKY VR46 Avintia’s Luca Marini, Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Joan Mir and Red Bull KTM’s Miguel Oliveira closed the top 10 in qualifying.
Quartararo’s Monster Energy Yamaha teammate, Maverick Vinales, will start 12th Sunday.