Portuguese rider Miguel Oliveira (KTM) will start from 11th for the Thai MotoGP Grand Prix, race number 17 of the season, with Italian Marco Bezzecchi starting from pole for the first time.
The Portuguese driver, who had to pass the first timed phase (Q1), made his best lap in 1:30.485 minutes, finishing 0.814 seconds behind the Italian Marco Bezzecchi (Ducati), author of the ‘pole position’ for the first time in his career and soon with the Thai circuit record.
The Spanish Jorge Martín (Ducati) was second, 0.021 seconds behind Bezzecchi, with Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) third, 0.104 seconds behind the championship leader, Frenchman Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha), who was fourth.
After finishing 11th in free practice this morning, Miguel Oliveira had to go through Q1 in search of one of the first two places to be able to go on to the last and decisive phase, Q2.
The Portuguese driver ended up posting the second fastest time in Q1, just behind Spaniard Marc Márquez (Honda), who also had to get into action at the start of qualifying.
The classification was dominated by Ducati, with six bikes in the top 10.
Bezzecchi surprised the competition and snatched the fastest time. However, the Italian was still threatened by Márquez who, however, made a mistake when he had time for pole and finished eighth.
The Thai MotoGP Grand Prix is the 17th race of the season.
Miguel Oliveira arrives at this test in 11th place in the championship, with 106 points, 113 behind the captain, Fabio Quartararo.
Source: TSF
