Fabio Quartararo can still dream.
On the eve of the final MotoGP Grand Prix this season, the French rider, who is 23 points behind Francesco Bagnaia in the world championship, will start in 4th position on the starting grid on Sunday.
He is thus ahead of his rival for the title who could not do better than an 8th place.
The express pole for Jorge Martin 🔝
Fabio Quartararo will start in 4th place, Francesco Bagnaia will be 8th 🏆#ValenciaGP 🇪🇸 |
#MotoGP pic.twitter.com/HOEufuE9TJ
— CANAL+ MotoGP™ (@CanalplusMotoGP) November 5, 2022
Directly qualified in Q2 this Saturday, the two rivals for the world crown first saw the superiority of Jorge Martin (Ducati), author of an impressive time from his first qualifying lap.
In difficulty, Francesco Bagnaia found himself in last position for a time in this Q2 after losing a lot of time in the fourth sector.
The pressure on Bagnaia's shoulders
For his part, Fabio Quartararo, who had to grab at least the second row at all costs to keep his chances of shining in the race, was ambushed for a long time behind the trio Martin, Miller and Rins.
But five minutes from time, he saw the Spaniard Maverick Viñales interpose on this fourth place.
A position that he will finally recover to afford the right to dream of a second consecutive title.
Pole position goes to Spaniard Jorge Martin who will start ahead of Marc Marquez and Jack Miller.
The pressure will certainly be on the shoulders of the Italian during this Grand Prix of Valencia.
Despite everything, with his lead of 23 points over Quartararo, he keeps all the cards in hand to afford a first title of world champion.
But "El Diablo" will obviously play the blow thoroughly.
He needed a victory while Bagnaia finished no better than 14th.
Twice this season, the Habs have managed the feat of recovering such a handicap in a single race.
It was in Barcelona and in Germany on the Sachsenring circuit.
Moreover, he was very consistent during the free practice sessions which he completed with the second fastest time.
Before the final explanation, Fabio Quartararo did not say his last word.
