Teruel MotoGP Qualifying Results - Takaaki Nakagami scores first MotoGP pole

Takaaki Nakagami became the first Japanese rider to secure a MotoGP pole position in 16 years after storming to the top spot in qualifying for the Teruel MotoGP, the second of back-to-back events being held at Motorland Aragon.

The LCR Honda rider - who sealed a multi-year contract extension with Honda in the days leading up to this event - hasn’t strayed outside of the top two positions throughout the weekend’s practice sessions and duly translated that into searing pace when it mattered in qualifying.

Stopping the clock at 1m 46.882secs, Nakagami’s efforts see him land a career-first pole position in his third season of MotoGP competition. It is alsoHonda’s first pole of 2020, the second pole for a 2019-spec machine in 2020 (after Johann Zarco in Brno) and the first by a Japanese rider since Makoto Tamada in 2004.

Franco Morbidelli came close to ruining Nakagami’s day, the Italian falling just 0.063s short of unseating the Honda rider, though both will be nervous to see Alex Rins - winner in Aragon last weekend from 10th on the grid - lift himself onto the front row this time around.

Maverick Vinales was the best placed of the perceived four title contenders, faring marginally better than Fabio Quartararo in sixth, but also substantially better than Joan Mir down in 12th position and Andrea Dovizioso, a dismal 17th after not only missing out on Q2 but proving slow overall anyway.

With all six Ducatis forced to fight for the two remaining Q2 spots in Q1, Johann Zarco got one over his factory-backed counterparts by not only squeezing into the pole-deciding session but going on to place the Avintia GP19 a strong fifth - well up on the next highest Desmo in 14th.

Cal Crutchlow consolidated LCR’s day in seventh, ahead of KTM pairing Miguel Oliveira and Pol Espargaro, while Alex Marquez will have some work to do again to repeat the heroics of the last two races, the Spaniard in a still career-best 10th. Making his first appearance in Q2, Iker Lecuona starts 11th, from Mir.

Outside the front four rows, Miller was left 14th, with Dovizioso 17th, Pecco Bagnaia 18th and Danilo Petrucci 19th.

2020 Teruel MotoGP - Qualifying Results