MotoGP: Viñales leads Yamaha front row lock-out

Maverick Viñales has pulled pole position for the French Grand Prix out of the bag after a steady start to the weekend in Le Mans, taking the top sport for tomorrow’s race from teammate Valentino Rossi and satellite Yamaha rider Johann Zarco to complete a lock-out of the front row for the Japanese manufacturer.

Viñales looked in control throughout the session despite tricky conditions – but says that he’s aware that anything could still happen this weekend come tomorrow’s race.

“It was a tricky qualifying, because the track was not at its best, but anyway our bike is really good here. We knew we could do it, so I just tried to concentrate and push to the best of my ability and bring home the pole position. We have to be really careful with the weather, we also have to pay a lot of attention if we have a flag to flag, a wet race or even on the dry, we still have to improve. We have to work tonight and try to improve for tomorrow.”

Cal Crutchlow led the second row for Honda ahead of the factory bike of Marc Marquez, while Andrea Dovizioso was the first Ducati in sixth. Scott Redding, fastest in this morning’s wet session, was seventh, ahead of an impressive run for the KTMs in eighth and tenth, split only by Karel Abraham.