Pecco Bagnaia scored his maiden MotoGP victory at Aragon last week and is in good shape to double up after taking pole position for Sunday’s San Marino Grand Prix.
Ducati rider Bagnaia led throughout in Spain, fighting off a determined charge from Marc Marquez in the closing stages.
Bagnaia ended qualifying 0.3 seconds ahead of his factory Ducati teammate Jack Miller, with championship leader Fabio Quartararo third after a late crash.
Rain on the Way for Race Day?
The Misano track stayed dry for the MotoGP riders on Saturday but Friday’s running was affected by rain and Sunday could well be too.
That won’t bother Bagnaia particularly – the Italian has been quick in all conditions this weekend – but Quartararo would probably prefer the rain to stay away. The Frenchman was only 17th in Friday afternoon’s practice, which was run entirely on a wet track.
“We are ready”
– @PeccoBagnaia
A warning to his competition! Bagnaia is ready, whether it's wet or dry
#SanMarinoGP
pic.twitter.com/GT4iu9YhLo
— MotoGP
(@MotoGP) September 18, 2021
The Yamaha rider has a 53-point lead in the championship with five events left on the schedule. However, Bagnaia’s Aragon win moved him up to second and a non-finish for the Frenchman, coupled with another win for Bagnaia, could lead to a much more nervous end to the campaign for Quartararo than looked likely a couple of races ago.
One rider who definitely won’t mind a wet race is Johann Zarco. Another member of the Ducati family, Zarco was half a second faster than anyone else on Friday afternoon and lines up a very handy fifth – close enough to take control early if conditions are in his favour.
Zarco’s form has gone off the boil of late, but he remains fourth in the championship and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him bounce back.
Vinales Finding His Feet at Aprilia
Another rider looking to bounce back is Maverick Vinales. The winner of the season-opener in Qatar, the Spaniard subsequently had a bust-up with the Yamaha team only to return in Aragon with Aprilia – the team who had already signed him for next year.
Vinales struggled to 18th place at Aragon while his teammate Aleix Espargaro finished fourth – just missing out on a second consecutive podium. But Vinales looks more comfortable this weekend and lines up 10th, two places behind Espargaro.
No Home Fairytale for Rossi
Valentino Rossi – widely considered the greatest motorcycle racer of all time – is headed for retirement at the end of the season but his lap-of-honour year has been one to forget.
Rossi finished 19th at Aragon having run as high as sixth in the early stages and that was the seventh race this season that the seven-time MotoGP champion has failed to score a point.
The legend of the sport will get one more chance to compete at his local circuit – the series returns to Misano next month – but Rossi will start 23rd after a crash in qualifying.
