The stage has been set in MotoGP™ as the title battle faces crunch time at the penultimate round of 2023. The front row at the Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar features three hungry Ducati riders who will have no trouble getting stuck in regardless of the title-fighting duo set to start just behind them. Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) has made the headlines once again with an incredible pole position. With his future yet to be announced, his 1:51.762 has done him plenty of favours as he's set to enjoy a clear run into Turn 1. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) also put on an impressive performance. Without a ride for 2024, the Italian with a point to prove missed out on pole by just 0.067s and will line up on the middle of front the row with his teammate Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) just behind him, hungry to take the top spot. 

Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) will have plenty to think about with their fellow Ducati's up ahead of them. The pair will line up alongside each other on front of row two as Bagnaia bagged fourth place with Martin just behind in 5th.

Time for battle in Q1

Yet again Q1 was no easy task in MotoGP™ as several heavy hitters were forced to engage in all-out war to compete for the final two spots in the all-important Q2 session. 

Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing), Alex Marquez, Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team), Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team), and Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team, as well as both Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™ riders were all threatening the top spots as the clock ticked away. 

In the end, it was Zarco and Marquez who won the battle with narrow margins making the difference. 

Allies and enemies…

With qualifying more important than ever in MotoGP™, the pressure was as the Qatar Q2 session could very well play a huge part in deciding the 2023 MotoGP™ championship.  

It was now or never for your title rivals Bagnaia and Martin. After the first run, Martin placed himself in the top three with Bagnaia down in P5. It was Di Giannantonio who led the way with Marini his closest competitor. 

The time came around for the 2nd bite at the cherry and Di Giannantonio was a man on a mission as he moved the goalposts once again to obliterate the lap record.

Bagnaia was on a flyer also as he had Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) glued to rear wheel. The Italian was putting in red sectors but just missed out on the top spot as he went 2nd and dragged Marquez to P3. 

It was far from over however as a fast lap from Alex Marquez came in and pushed both Bagnaia and Marc Marquez down a place. Martin then had the bit between his teeth as he went fastest through the first sector. As the Spaniard flew his way around the Lusail International Circuit he did manage a personal best but wasn't able to threaten the front row as he slotted in behind his title rival. 

Luca Marini then shocked the paddock with his incredible lap which destroyed the lap record once again and bagged the Italian pole position ahead of the Gresini duo of Di Giannantonio and Alex Marquez. 

Marini's lap also demoted Bagnaia to the 2nd row as the Champion is set to start his title defence from fourth place, with his threat to the thrown Martin right alongside him in 5th. Joining the pair on row two will be Johann Zarco who fought his way through from Q1 - a possible ally to Martin's title attack.

The attack from the back

Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) was demoted down to 7th place after his lap on the coattails of Bagnaia. Whilst the eight-time Champ remains the top Honda - and the only one in Q2 - Marquez will start from the front of row three with Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) and Raul Fernandez (CryptoDATA RNF MotoGP™ Team) joining him in 8th and 9th.

The fourth row of the grid will feature Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) who rounded out the top ten ahead of Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory) who found himself almost one second off the pace in P11. The South African will start ahead of Augusto Fernandez (GASGAS Factory Racing Tech3) who will line up on the edge of row four. 

Pecco vs Martin is in full swing as the title war is now incredibly close to its conclusion. The Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar is set up perfectly for a barnstorming battle. Who will come out on top and how will the likes of Marini, Di Giannantonio, and A. Marquez play a part in the Championship story? Make sure to tune in for lights out in the Tissot Sprint at 20:00 local time (GMT +3)!

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