Brno MotoGP: Marquez destroys the opposition in half wet, half dry qualifying

Marc Marquez decimated his rivals to claim pole for the Brno MotoGP race by a staggering 2.524s. Having made a brave tyre gamble and moved to slicks despite significant sections of the track still being wet, Marquez displayed a new level of genius to not only stay onboard his factory Honda, despite additional rain falling at the end of the lap, but clinch an utterly dominant pole position.

The incredible result, Marquez’s 58^th MotoGP pole of his career saw his no. of poles equal fellow Repsol Honda legend and five time 500GP World Champion, Mick Doohan.

But while the result showed just how focussed and confident the 26 year old Spaniard currently is, even he accepted that it was a high risk strategy.

Speaking in Parc Ferme, he said: “Honestly speaking, now when I’m stood here I think that I took too many risks because with the situation we have in the championship this kind of thing is not necessary! But when I am on track I have this ambition. The track was getting wetter but I was on a good lap so I just continued.

Second position went to Pramac Ducati rider Jack Miller who has a reputation for being not only fast, but brave in mixed track conditions. The Australian was the only man, along with Marquez who was prepared to fully attack the sketchy track and was rewarded for his efforts.

While Marquez stole the show, Johann Zarco stunned his rivals by coming through Q1 before leading Q2 on full wet tyres. He was ultimately pipped by Marquez and Miller into third, but it marks a dramatic and welcome return to form for the Frenchman who had been enduring a torrid 2019 season onboard the RedBull KTM.

Andrea Dovizioso used wet tyres throughout the session to finish fourth ahead of another KTM man Pol Espargaro and Suzuki’s Alex Rins.

Valentino Rossi also stayed on wets but a late push saw him jump up to seventh and head the third row of the grid.

Britain’s Cal Crutchlow will start the race from the fourth row in 11^th, flanked by Petronas Yamaha men Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli.

 Q2 results:
1. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) 2’02.753
2. Jack Miller (Pramac Racing) +2.524
3. Johann Zarco (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) +2.598
4. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) +2.837
5. Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) +2.957
6. Alex Rins (Team Suzuki ECSTAR) +3.419
7. Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) +3.480
8. Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team) +3.704
9. Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) +3.873
10. Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT) +3.895
11. Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) + 4.370
12. Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT) + 6.651