Dutch MotoGP Qualifying: Quartararo takes pole in Netherlands
French rider Fabio Quartararo will start from pole for the fourth time this season after posting the fastest time in qualifying on Saturday for the Dutch MotoGP.
The 26-year-old 2021 world champion, who will also start from pole for the sprint race later on Saturday, has yet to transform his excellent qualifying performances this season into victories.
For the Yamaha rider it was a welcome return to form having failed to finish in three of the last four MotoGPs.
The most crushing disappointment of all came when he was set for his first win since Germany in 2022 but suffered a technical problem in the British MotoGP last month.
However, he was back to his optimistic self post-qualifying on Saturday.
'I would not say I am the favourite, but I am one of the podium contenders for sure,' he said.
'I feel good, the bike is in good shape.'
He will be joined on the front row by Italy's two-time world champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) and Spain's Alex Marquez (Ducati-Gresini).
Marquez's older brother and series leader Marc Marquez (Ducati), will start on the second row, having timed fourth fastest in qualifying.
Marc Marquez -- who is the only other rider apart from Quartararo to have started on pole this season -- has had a rough couple of days, having fallen twice in Friday's practice sessions.
'They were not high speed crashes but the problem was the run-off areas were made up of large pebbles and not gravel like the other race tracks,' said Marquez, who had suffered bruising and also had to have a stitch to seal a cut in his jaw.
Marc Marquez leads his brother by 40 points in the standings, with Bagnaia a distant third, 110 points adrift, heading into the 10th MotoGP of the 22 race campaign.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Paul Pogba Is Back! Signs Two-Year Deal With Ligue 1's AS Monaco
Last Updated: Paul Pogba has signed a two-year contract with Monaco, returning to football after nearly two years away due to injuries, a doping ban, and an extortion case. Paul Pogba has signed a two-year contract with Ligue 1 club Monaco, marking his return to football after nearly two years away, the club announced on Saturday. The Ligue 1 side took to social media to announce the signing of Pogba. The 2018 World Cup winner has only made 12 appearances over the past three seasons due to injuries, an 18-month doping ban, and an extortion case in which he was the victim. Pogba failed a drugs test in August 2023 following a match for Juventus and has been eligible to return to football since March, although his contract with the Italian club was terminated last year. In February 2024, Pogba received a four-year doping ban after testing positive for DHEA, which increases testosterone levels. The suspension was reduced to 18 months after a successful appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Juventus announced in November that they had mutually agreed to terminate his contract, which was originally set to expire in June 2026. The midfielder will now play club football in Ligue 1 for the first time in his professional career. 'I am determined to get back on the pitch, mentally ready, physically ready, it's just a matter of time," the 32-year-old told French television last weekend. Pogba started in the Le Havre youth team before joining Manchester United in 2009. He made only a few first-team appearances for the three-time European champions before signing with Juventus in 2012. Pogba won four consecutive Serie A titles in Turin before rejoining Manchester United for a then-world record 105 million euros ($123 million). He returned to Juventus three years ago but struggled with various injuries. In 2024, his brother Mathias was sentenced to three years in prison, with two years suspended, for his role in an attempt to extort 13 million euros from Pogba in 2022. Pogba has scored 11 goals in 91 appearances for the France national team, playing a key role and scoring in their World Cup final victory over Croatia seven years ago. He last played for France in 2022 but missed the World Cup in Qatar due to knee surgery. His new club Monaco, will participate in the Champions League next season after finishing third behind Ligue 1 champions Paris St Germain and Olympique de Marseille last season.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
PSG preparing for 'emotional' reunion with Messi at Club World Cup
Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique said facing former player Lionel Messi will be an "emotional" reunion for both himself and the French club ahead of Sunday's Club World Cup clash against Inter Miami. HT Image Argentine great Messi joined PSG in 2021 from Barcelona, where Luis Enrique had coached him and several other current Inter Miami players. The forward departed in 2023, the same summer the Spaniard arrived at PSG, having won two Ligue 1 titles but failed to bring the French club the Champions League triumph they craved. Luis Enrique eventually led PSG to European success this season as they won the trophy for the first time by thrashing Inter Milan on May 31. "I think the game in an emotional sense is special for me, without a doubt, for the club too and the players who have been here with Messi," Luis Enrique told a news conference Saturday. The coach said he was also excited about facing Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Inter Miami boss Javier Mascherano, all of whom he coached at Barcelona as they won the treble in 2015. "It's beautiful to see these players, who are more than just players for me, it will be special before and after the game," he continued ahead of the match in Atlanta. Luis Enrique said Messi's presence would be a motivating factor for his PSG side, who are one of the leading favourites to win the competition. "If we can't get the ball off them it won't look good for us, because Busquets is still the same, Lionel Messi with the ball is unique," he said. "Luis Suarez, you saw the last goal he scored... and on top of that they have a coach like Mascherano... "For us it's very motivating. We won the Champions League recently, but for us we have a lot of hunger still to show we have room to improve, that we want to compete. "There's no better stage to compete than in this marvellous stadium, facing a team in which there is a man who is called Leo Messi, who is a revered figure not just for Barca fans, but people who enjoy him as a player." Luis Enrique said star PSG forward Ousmane Dembele had trained this week but he would "take no risks" with the French winger for the last-16 clash at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. After Botafogo stunned PSG in the group stage and Inter Miami surprised with a 2-1 win over Porto, Luis Enrique called on his players to maintain their concentration. "When you play in these type of competitions, and I know it perfectly well from coaching the Spanish national team, you cannot slip up whatsoever," said Luis Enrique. "You cannot pause, you cannot be excessively confident, you can't do anything wrong because 90 minutes go by very quickly, and I think it's important that from the start we try and make our mark, impose our game and that's our objective." The coach said the way to try and shackle Messi was collectively, rather than individually. "Messi can dribble any player," added Luis Enrique. "If we want to stop Leo Messi, we don't want only one player, because we are dead we need the collective." rbs/as This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Inter Miami can dream of shocking PSG: Mascherano
Javier Mascherano insists his Inter Miami side can shock European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup last 16 on Sunday, despite admitting they are levels below the French giants. HT Image With Argentine great Lionel Messi leading the charge, Miami surprised in the group stage as they progressed but facing newly-crowned Champions League winners PSG in Atlanta is a "huge challenge" in the coach's eyes. "We will try to be up to the standard, we will try to do things in the best way we can, and why can't be dream of being able to shock them?" Mascherano told a news conference Saturday. "My message is that this is not over yet, there is a game to be played. We know we are taking on an opponent of unique power, one of the best in the world, but this is football. "Tomorrow, why not try to play the best game possible, a near-perfect game for us, and have the chance of competing and some chance of going through." Despite PSG being heavy favourites, Mascherano said his side cannot be written off before a ball is kicked at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. "We are not naive, we know that the feeling around the game is we are the weaker team, that's clear," continued Mascherano. "That doesn't mean they can kill us in advance. We will fight, that's what it's about. I think the beautiful thing about the game tomorrow is that we have earned the right to play it." The coach said he was glad 38-year-old playmaker Messi played for Miami now, rather than PSG. "Everything around Leo generates a lot of interest, we Argentines know that after the World Cup and all of that," said Mascherano. "The most important thing is that Leo is well and that Leo plays for us. I think that helps keep us calmer than anything. And after that, it's a game of football." Mascherano was also looking forward to meeting PSG boss Luis Enrique, who coached him, as well as Miami players Messi, Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba at Barcelona, all of them winning the treble together in 2015. "Luis is one of the best coaches I've had in my career, I have a good personal relationship with him," said Mascherano. "He was one of those who convinced me to stay at Barca back in that era... he's a great coach who has shown it with Barcelona, now in Paris, and also in the Spanish national team... "It's also good to test yourself against this type of coach, this type of team, it's a challenge." Inter Miami earned a surprise win against Portuguese side Porto on their way to qualifying second from Group A behind Palmeiras. Federico Redondo, son of former Real Madrid midfielder Fernando Redondo, accepted his team will have to defend well to stand any chance of securing a result against the French champions. "The reality is they are the best team in the world, and when you have a team of that level, they dominate you and oblige you to defend more," said the 22-year-old Argentine. Redondo said his father had not given him any special advice for the clash against Champions League winners PSG. " what he always does, that I should enjoy it, and that we keep doing what we've been doing, that we've had three great games," added Redondo. rbs/rcw This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
