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Pramac Racing rider Johann Zarco placed his Ducati in the second row of the grid in MotoGP qualifying at the Losail circuit in Qatar, having previously set a top speed record of 362.4 km / h in FP4 .
The previous speed record of 356.7 km / h, which Andrea Dovizioso set at Mugello in 2019, has been history in Qatar since Saturday. Johann Zarco made optimal use of a slip in the fourth free practice session and, at the same time, braked late, so he could no longer catch the first corner, the result? 362.4 km / h on the straight kilometer of the Losail International Circuit. In the qualifying session that followed, he placed his Pramac-Ducati in sixth place on the grid.
“It was a beautiful evening. FP4 was very interesting, I was able to set a fast lap time and then I was able to follow some fast guys and I realized that I can carry on comfortably,” said the two-time Moto2 world champion happily. It gives the race a chance to check the tires throughout the distance. Sixth on the grid and second row on the grid are a good position and with a good start I can be very fast in the first five or seven laps. Then we will see how our rhythm behaves and how we can use the power of our engine ”.
The Frenchman was 0.514 seconds short of the pole time of his brand-mate Francesco Bagnaia, and is hoping for a good chance at a solid position in the race. “I think I have the opportunity to have a good race because compared to last year I have much better options to protect the tires,” the 30-year-old stressed on Saturday. “I don’t have to drive over the limit, last year it was necessary to fight the opponents and as a result I destroyed my tires very often. This year it’s easier to push and I don’t run over the bike. “
The Ducati rider was delighted with his new record. The performance of your motorcycle gives you many advantages for the race. “I reached top speed thanks to a very good sliding and because I braked very late. Only the combination of both gave me this value “, emphasized Zarco and added:” We thought we could do 360 km / h, but I did not expect 362 km / h. We are happy because something like this is always special. I’ve never had such a good chance of hitting my opponents so easily. “
Qatar GP, Q2 MotoGP, March 27:
1. Bagnaia, Ducati, 1: 52,772 min
2. Quartararo, Yamaha, 1: 53 038 min, + 0.266 s
3. Viñales, Yamaha, 1: 53.088, + 0.316
4.Rossi, Yamaha, 1: 53,114, + 0.342
5. Miller, Ducati, 1: 53.215, + 0.443
6. Zarco, Ducati, 1: 53.286, + 0.514
7. Morbidelli, Yamaha, 1: 53.313, + 0.541
8. Aleix Espargaró, Aprilia, 1: 53.315, + 0.543
9. Rins, Suzuki, 1: 53.490, + 0.718
10. Mir, Suzuki, 1: 53.682, + 0.910
11. Nakagami, Honda, 1: 53.721, + 0.949
12. Pol Espargaro, Honda, 1: 53,930, + 1,158
The rest of the starting grid:
13. Bastianini, Ducati, 1: 53,733 min
14. Martin, Ducati, 1: 53,840
15. Oliveira, KTM, 1: 53,915
16. Alex Marquez, Honda, 1: 53,958
17 Bradl, Honda, 1: 53,995
18. Marini, Ducati, 1: 54.122
19. Folder, KTM, 1: 54,240
20. Petrucci, KTM, 1: 54.443
21. Lecuona, KTM, 1: 54,627
22. Savadori, Aprilia, 1: 55,183
