Pramac delight as rookie Martin storms to first MotoGP pole

(L to R) Pramac Racing's French rider Johann Zarco and Pramac Racing's Spanish rider Jorge Martin pose for a picture during the Moto GP Grand Prix of Doha at the Losail International Circuit, in the city of Lusail

The Losail International Circuit hosted yet another mesmerising MotoGP qualifying session and coming out on top, in just his second-ever premier class qualifying session, was rookie sensation Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing). The Spaniard set a 1:53.106 to beat teammate Johann Zarco by 0.157s who in turn edged out third-placed Maverick Vinales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) by 0.004s. Ahead of Q2 in Doha, a nail-biting Q1 session got underway and for the second time in two weeks, reigning world champion Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar) was involved. After the first runs, Mir was three tenths clear of Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), but the second set of flying laps saw some real changes. Luca Marini (SKY VR46 Esponsorama) sat P2 as red splits lit up everywhere, but the Italian would lose out to Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) by just 0.008s, as Mir improved his time to safely make it through to Q2 by a couple of tenths. The circuit then fell silent for a handful of minutes, before the 12 fastest premier class riders so far this weekend rumbled out of pitlane for the eagerly anticipated pole position shootout. A confident Martin was the fastest rider from the get-go and set a 1:53.892 straight out the traps. Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) leapt up to P1 but once again, shadowing Mir, Martin was back on top of the pile. Now, his time was a 1:53.597 as Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) slotted himself into P2, just 0.017s behind Martin’s early benchmark.