Italian MotoGP Qualifying | Wily Quartararo upsets Ducati force for Mugello pole

Fabio Quartararo will start the 2021 Italian MotoGP at Mugello from pole position after relying on his own raw pace aboard the Yamaha to deny the Ducati trio and a spirited challenge from Aprilia and KTM too.

Always regarded as a favourite for pole position given his multiplying record of pole positions, pole in Mugello is his fourth in a row and the 14th of a MotoGP career that is barely two seasons.

Quartararo’s performance is made all the more impressive by the fact he did it on his own after Yamaha team-mate Maverick Vinales failed to make it into Q2, while the Petronas SRT bike of Franco Morbidelli doesn’t have the straight line pace to make it worthwhile.

Nonetheless, the determined effort by Ducati that had all three crossing the timing line in quick succession fell just short with pre-session favourite Pecco Bagnaia slotting into second, with the Pramac Ducati of rounding out the front row in third.

Their late advance denied what would have been a surprise front row start for Aprilia and Aleix Espargaro, the Italian benefiting from taking part in Q1 and a very tactical tow early on to sit second for much of the session, before slipping to what remains one of its best-ever showings in fourth.

Winner of the last two grands prix, Jack Miller gets underway from fifth, pushing down the impressive KTM pair of Brad Binder and Miguiel Oliveira, the duo making the most of what appears to be an effective KTM upgrade this weekend.

Alex Rins led Suzuki team-mate Joan Mir in eighth and ninth respectively, with Morbidelli overcoming his speed deficit to secure tenth on the grid. Marc Marquez made it into Q2 via Q1 and woul dget the better of his Repsol Honda team-mate, albeit only in 11th and 12th.

With Espargaro and Marquez making it into Q2 from Q1, the remainder of the grid is highlighted by Vinales failing to make the cut and being left to battle back from 13th on the grid, while Valentino Rossi starts what could be his last Italian MotoGP from only 19th on the grid.

2021 Italian MotoGP | Mugello | Qualifying RESULTS