Quartararo takes pole for 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.
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France 24
21 hours ago
- France 24
Relieved Marc Marquez surges to Dutch MotoGP sprint win
The 32-year-old Spaniard started from the second row of the grid but rapidly seized control on his Ducati to ease to his ninth win in 10 sprint races so far this season. The six-time world champion's younger brother Alex Marquez (Ducati-Gresini) finished second with Italy's GB MotoGP winner Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia) third. Marquez's Ducati team-mate Italy's two-time world champion Francesco Bagnaia lost more ground in the title race, finishing fourth. "I was not expecting to win starting from the second row but I had an excellent start and I focussed on being error-free throughout the race," said Marquez. "I am relieved because I think my body would not have taken another fall." Fabio Quartararo will start from pole on Sunday, after posting the fastest time in qualifying, but the 26-year-old French Yamaha rider will hope for a better return than he got in the sprint. The 2021 world champion -- who has failed to convert his previous three pole positions into victories in the MotoGPs this season -- crashed four laps from the finish whilst in fourth spot. "On Sunday I will have new tyres, because it will be hotter than today," said the Frenchman. Bagnaia -- seeking a fourth successive victory on the track reverentially referred to as the 'Cathedral of Speed' -- and other riders will entertain some hope they can deny Marquez victory in Sunday's race. The Spaniard's Ducati lacked grip at the back and he appeared to be ill at ease on sector three of the circuit. "I did have difficulties on corner 11," he conceded.
France 24
a day ago
- France 24
Quartararo takes pole for 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.
France 24
2 days ago
- France 24
Alex Marquez dismisses helping brother Marc's title bid
That will leave the rejuvenated six-time MotoGP champion 21 grands prix wins shy of all-time record-holder Valentino Rossi. The way the Spaniard has been riding since joining the Ducati factory time this term, catching his retired arch rival's tally is by no means beyond the bounds of possibility. Marquez arrives at Assen's 'Cathedral of speed' circuit fresh from his exploits at Mugello, where he claimed the sprint and the race from pole for the fifth weekend this year. His fifth win from nine grands prix lifted him 40 points clear of his younger sibling Alex, riding for Ducati's satellite Gresini team. Alex Marquez has finished second to Marc in eight of the nine sprints, and four times in the main event, leading some conspiracy theorists to speculate over a form of collusion and sharing of strategies between the siblings. Alex though was quick to knock that notion on the head ahead of this 10th round of the championship. "I think, from outside, some people are trying to create a war or a battle between me and Marc," Alex told "It's what the people want to push, to see some competition. We have that already - we are brothers. "So, we've fought all of our lives. You want to beat your brother and you want to be in front and you want to be better in life than your brother. "But it will not change. At the moment, he is faster than us. For that reason, many times people say 'Alex doesn't attack him'. "I don't attack him because I don't arrive (in a position to take him on)." Bagnaia aims for Assen four-timer The Marquez brothers have left former two-time champion Francesco Bagnaia toiling in their wake this season. The occupant of the other half of the Ducati factory garage is a yawning 110 points off the lead. But 'Pecco' has form at Assen, winning the last three Dutch grands prix, and looked back to his best, hustling for the lead early on in Mugello last Sunday before settling for third. Bagnaia is having similar problems with his bike as McLaren Formula One title contender Lando Norris has been complaining of with his car this season as he battles his teammate Oscar Piastri for the F1 drivers' crown. "I was quite confident in the first part of the race, I was feeling good, and then after six laps, the front started to drop. "I had to slow down because I was risking a crash. The problem is that this season is always like this. I cannot do what I want on the bike," he said after Mugello. "It's a shame, it is what it is. From the first race, it's like this," he continued. "Maybe I start well, then I spend the race watching the brothers, what they are doing, hoping for a mistake from them to maybe have a chance to overtake. But like this, it's not possible." © 2025 AFP
