logo
Quartararo takes third successive MotoGP pole

Quartararo takes third successive MotoGP pole

France 2424-05-2025

The 26-year-old 2021 world champion, who also set a new fastest lap for the Silverstone circuit, will start from the front row of the grid for both the sprint race later on Saturday and Sunday's Grand Prix.
"I am very happy," Quartararo told Canal+.
"We are still way off Ducati (in terms of performance), but little by little we are closing the gap.
"To perform well on one lap is one thing, to be consistent over 10 or 20, is another matter."
"If I could finish on the podium in the sprint I would take that!" added Quartararo, who will hope on Sunday it is third time lucky in terms of converting pole into a race victory.
Spain's Alex Marquez (Ducati-Gresini) and two-time world champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) of Italy will be alongside him.
Marquez's older brother and championship leader Marc Marquez will be on the second row, having finished fourth fastest on his Ducati.
Marc Marquez, who has won three of the six races so far this season, has a 22-point lead over Alex Marquez, with Bagnaia 51 points off the pace.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Albon picks up the tab for Russell's lobster pasta Monaco 'revenge'
Albon picks up the tab for Russell's lobster pasta Monaco 'revenge'

France 24

time29-05-2025

  • France 24

Albon picks up the tab for Russell's lobster pasta Monaco 'revenge'

Williams driver Albon had slowed, delayed and blocked the Mercedes man during last Sunday's race so much that Russell eventually cut a chicane and accepted a penalty, claiming afterwards that he would gain revenge by making Albon pay the bill at dinner. The pair laughed as they recounted details of their meal with Albon revealing his guest had chosen a lobster pasta dish. "He ordered the most expensive thing on the menu – the lobster pasta," Albon told a press conference on Thursday ahead of this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix. "But he skipped dessert so it kind of equalled out. It was good fun, a fun evening…. And yeah, I did pay. As I should," he added. Russell finished the race a frustrated 11th as Mercedes endured a pointless event while Williams who engaged a tactic of using their drivers to hold up the pack to create a pit-stop window for each other, finished ninth and 10th. The RB team of rookies Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson used similar tactics on their way to career best sixth and eighth places, Lawson notably creating pit-stop opportunities for Hadjar. The Frenchman thanked his New Zealand team-mate on Thursday, but said he had no plans to reciprocate on track. "Maybe a dinner or something," he agreed would be an appropriate gesture. Sunday's race at the Circuit de Catalunya completes a triple-header of three consecutive races in Italy, Monaco and Spain. Lando Norris won in Monaco to move to within three points of his McLaren teammate and championship leader Oscar Piastri.

MotoGP world champion Martin seeks Aprilia exit
MotoGP world champion Martin seeks Aprilia exit

France 24

time29-05-2025

  • France 24

MotoGP world champion Martin seeks Aprilia exit

The Spaniard won the 2024 title on Ducati's satellite Pramac bike, but left the Italian manufacturer after being overlooked in favour of Marc Marquez for the factory ride. With his title defence wrecked by injury, he has only managed to compete in Qatar so far this season, he believes a clause in his contract allows him to walk away at the end of the year. The clause he refers to gives him the option to quit if, after round six at Le Mans, he was no longer in contention for the world championship. After seven rounds, he has yet to register a point and is 196 behind leader Marc Marquez, ruling out any possibility of retaining the title. Aprilia, according to reports, argue that because of his litany of injuries, this clause is invalid and the two-year contract stands. Martin took to social media to state his case. "At no point have I breached the contract. "When we signed it, I agreed with Aprilia that if certain conditions were not met, I would reserve the right to decide my future for 2026. This was an essential condition for me to accept the contract offer at that time. "Faced with the need to make a decision by a date set in the contract, I have chosen to exercise my right to be released for the 2026 season. I've always done so with respect, clarity, and the sole intention of taking control of my future as a professional athlete. "Unfortunately, the circumstances caused by the crashes - while they do not alter the agreement - have influenced this phase. That's why I've always been open to dialogue with Aprilia about extending this evaluation period to a certain number of grand prix races starting from my return." His statement concluded that he had always been honest with Aprilia. "All I ask is for my wishes and the spirit of what we agreed upon to be respected," he wrote. Martin has endured a calamitous 2025. He was first injured during pre-season testing in Sepang and had to undergo surgery at the beginning of February. He then suffered another crash which necessitated another operation on his left hand at the end of February, just before the opening round of the season in Thailand. The 27-year-old finally made his first appearance of the season in Qatar only to slide out shortly after the halfway mark at Lusail suffering a hemopneumothorax -- broken ribs, and blood and air in the space around his lungs. © 2025 AFP

Verstappen hoping rule change can propel his title charge
Verstappen hoping rule change can propel his title charge

France 24

time29-05-2025

  • France 24

Verstappen hoping rule change can propel his title charge

The four-time world champion triumphed on his Red Bull debut as a teenager at the Circuit de Catalunya in the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix and will hope another win, his fifth in Spain, will propel him into the thick of the title race. The 27-year-old Dutchman is 25 points adrift of championship leader Oscar Piastri and 22 behind his McLaren team-mate Lando Norris, who their rivals believe could be hampered by the introduction of strict front wing flexibility tests. "It's a significant change," said Red Bull boss Christian Horner of the requirement for much stiffer front wings. "There will be some effect and, of course, the teams have anticipated this so it may well be neutral. Or it may affect tyre degradation. It doesn't make life easier!" McLaren's excellent aerodynamic car, designed to enable their drivers to manage tyre-wear and deliver fast times, may be more hit by the tightening up of the rule than others. "But we don't know how it will affect them," added Horner. Formula One announced the clampdown on so-called 'flexi wings' in January. 'Game-changer' The change left the teams with time to prepare and may have a dramatic effect on performance and the outcome of the season. "With 16 races left, there is a long way to go," said Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. "The team is pushing to find performance and this weekend's updated front wing technical directive will provide another level of intrigue." After a dismal pointless weekend in Monte Carlo, Wolff expects an upturn from his 'silver arrows' drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. Ferrari's Fred Vasseur said: "This can be a game-changer for everybody because we don't know the impact on every team." McLaren have won six out of the eight races this year and sit 172 points clear of Mercedes in the teams' title race, but know the 'mixed' Spanish track, where there are as many slow corners as fast, may be a challenge for their car. But after strong results everywhere this season, except on the high-speed tracks at Suzuka and Imola where Verstappen won for Red Bull, they will be under scrutiny and pressure. As will Ferrari after an inconsistent and mostly disappointing start to the season as seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton continues to seek his first win with the team at a venue where he has won six times – a record he shares with Michael Schumacher. Two Spanish drivers will take part this weekend: Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin, due to start his 410th race at the age of 43, and Carlos Sainz, 30, of Williams, set for his 215th race. Their presence has maintained the sport's relatively-new modern popularity and the growth of big crowds at Spanish Grands Prix. Furthermore, Sainz, born in Madrid, is an ambassador for a future race near the capital, from 2027, while Alonso fulfills a similar role for the Catalan track, which runs out of contract next year – a conflict that enables them to reflect Spain's most classic and enduring sporting rivalry.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store