After a fairly quiet start to the weekend, the reigning World Champion gradually gained momentum to settle on the first row of the starting grid, between Johann Zarco and Danilo Petrucci.
Marquez started his Friday modestly with the thirteenth fastest time in the first free practice session. He accelerated in the afternoon and took third position, 0.652 from Maverick Vinales and 0.285 from second Jonas Folger. He retained his third place at the end of the third session on Saturday morning, which took place in the wet.
In qualifying, he adopted a flexible driving style on the wet track, less abrupt than usual, and without making any mistakes. He gradually increased the pace, managing to dispossess Danilo Petrucci of the best time. But that was without counting on Johann Zarco who snatched pole position from him at the very end.
Marquez is therefore excellently placed in the middle of the first row, especially since his two main opponents in the Championship are significantly less well off, with Andrea Dovizioso in ninth position and Maverick Vinales in eleventh place.
According to Marc Marquez, “ Today was one of those days where you have to take risks because you need to be there. Towards the end of the session a dry line started to form and we were able to be faster.
“In the end I missed the chance to do another lap when I took the flag for a few seconds.
“But we are on the front line, which was the main goal for today. The team did a great job and I'm happy.
“Tomorrow we will see what the weather will be like. You never know here, it can change every five minutes. Our opponents are strong both in the wet and in the dry, but we are not that far apart and tomorrow we will try to start well, stay with them and fight for the podium. »
Qualification results:
1. Johann Zarco FRA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)* 1m 46.141
2. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 46.206s +0.065
3. Danilo Petrucci ITA Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 46.526s +0.385
4. Valentino Rossi ITA Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 46.705s +0.564
5. Scott Redding GBR Octo Pramac Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 47.574s +1.433
6. Jonas Folger GER Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)* 1m 47.663s +1.522
7. Alvaro Bautista ESP Pull&Bear Aspar Team (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 47.812s +1.671
8. Cal Crutchlow GBR LCR Honda (RC213V) 1m 48.042s +1.901
9. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 48.079s +1.938
10. Sam Lowes GBR Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP)* 1m 48.128s +1.987
11. Maverick Vinales ESP Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) 1m 48.266s +2.125
12. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) 1m 49.623s +3.482
13. Jack Miller AUS Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 47.217
14. Loris Baz FRA Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 47.234
15. Aleix Espargaro ESP Factory Aprilia Gresini (RS-GP) 1m 47.277
16. Andrea Iannone ITA Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR) 1m 47.649
17. Alex Rins ESP Team Suzuki Ecstar (GSX-RR)* 1m 47.804
18. Karel Abraham CZE Pull&Bear Aspar Team (Desmosedici GP15) 1m 47.947
19. Pol Espargaro ESP Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 1m 47.957
20. Hector Barbera ESP Reale Avintia Racing (Desmosedici GP16) 1m 48.080
21. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Ducati Team (Desmosedici GP17) 1m 48.219
22. Bradley Smith GBR Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (RC16) 1m 48.448
23. Tito Rabat ESP Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS (RC213V) 1m 48.700
Provisional ranking of the World Championship:
1 Maverick VIÑALES-Yamaha 111 points
2 Andrea DOVIZIOSO-Ducati 104
3 Marc MARQUEZ-Honda 88
4 Dani PEDROSA-Honda 84
5 Valentino ROSSI-Yamaha 83
6 Johann ZARCO-Yamaha 75
7 Jorge LORENZO-Ducati 59
8 Jonas FOLGER-Yamaha 51
9 Cal CRUTCHLOW-Honda 45
10 Danilo PETRUCCI-Ducati 42
11 Alvaro BAUTISTA-Ducati 34
12 Scott REDDING-Ducati 33
13 Jack MILLER-Honda 30
14 Loris BAZ-Ducati 23
15 Andrea IANNONE-Suzuki 21
16 Hector BARBERA-Ducati 21
