Zarco snatches pole from Quartararo in Germany

Ducati-Pramac rider Johann Zarco is assisted by track marshals after crashing during qualifying ahead of the German Grand Prix at Sachsenring circuit in Hohenstein-Ernstthal near Chemnitz, Germany, yesterday. (AFP)

Pramac Ducati’s Johann Zarco ended fellow Frenchman Fabio Quartararo’s dominant run of five consecutive poles to go fastest in qualifying at the German Grand Prix yesterday. Yamaha’s Quartararo set the early benchmark in the session before Zarco dug deep to post his fastest lap in one minute, 20.236 seconds. Zarco’s first pole since last year’s Czech GP came under threat in the closing stages when he crashed out on Turn 4. But Quartararo pulled out of his final run to settle for second spot on the grid. “I’m pretty happy. I was finally able to use the tyres at their best in the closing stages,” Zarco said. “I was still looking to push in the final lap and see what I can do. But I lost my front and couldn’t control the bike. I just protected myself. It’s all ok.” Aleix Espargaro strengthened his hopes of a podium charge after finishing third – scoring Aprilia’s first front row spot in the premier class since the Australian Grand Prix in 2000. Ducati’s Jack Miller, third in the championship race, was fourth ahead of Repsol Honda’s six-times premier class champion Marc Marquez, who has won the German race on his previous 10 attempts. Quartararo’s Yamaha teammate Maverick Vinales had a day to forget, recording his worst-ever MotoGP qualifying result to start in 21st. Italian great Valentino Rossi fared a little better on his Petronas SRT Yamaha to take 16th place, ahead of Suzuki’s reigning world champion Joan Mir. Heading into today’s race at Sachsenring, Quartararo leads the championship race with 115 points, 14 clear of Zarco in second place. In Moto2, Spain’s Raul Fernandez continued to show his progression with a third season pole. Czech teen racer Filip Salac pulled off his first ever career pole in Moto3.German GP MotoGP grid (top 12) Front row 1. Johann Zarco (FRA/Ducati-Pramac) 2. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha) 3. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/Aprilia) 2nd row 4. Jack Miller (AUS/Ducati) 5. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) 6. Miguel Oliveira (POR/KTM) 3rd row 7. Jorge Martin (ESP/Ducati-Pramac) 8. Pol Espargaro (ESP/Honda) 9. Takaaki Nakagami (JPN/Honda-LCR) 4th row 10. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA/Ducati) 11. Alex Rins (ESP/Suzuki) 12. Alex Marquez (ESP/Honda-LCR)