Francesco Bagnaia’s “roller-coaster” season took one other dramatic swing because the manufacturing unit Ducati rider stormed to pole place for the Malaysian MotoGP.
Bagnaia arrived at Sepang with out a single level since his flawless Motegi double victory, the place a change again to older GP24 elements (briefly) reworked his fortunes.
However after ending solely twelfth on Friday, he confronted a battle simply to make it via to Qualifying 2.
The Italian edged out Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi in Q1 to affix Fermin Aldeguer within the pole shootout.
With just one contemporary set of sentimental tyres remaining, Bagnaia sat out the opening run, then leapt from final (twelfth) to first on his opening flying lap, the place he remained to safe his third consecutive Sepang pole.
Yamaha’s qualifying ace Fabio Quartararo seemed set to disclaim Bagnaia however fell quick within the remaining sector, leaving an all-Ducati entrance row of Bagnaia, Alex Marquez (Gresini) and Franco Morbidelli (VR46).
“Tough to elucidate, and such as you stated, it is a rollercoaster,” Bagnaia smiled in parc ferme.
“So I am blissful, however I do not wish to be too calm, and I do know that this afternoon can be difficult.
“The situation could be very scorching, so it is going to be vital to stay calm and attempt to perceive the scenario.
“However this morning we did a superb job. We tried various things and it helped a bit, not simply me, all of the Ducatis, as a result of yesterday we had been extra in bother.
“So it’s an enchancment and we simply have to proceed like this.”
Bagnaia’s pole time of 1m 57.001s was considerably slower than final 12 months’s document 1m 56.337s, though the delicate tyre spec stays unchanged for this weekend.
Alex Marquez, Bagnaia, 2025 Malaysian MotoGP qualifying
Pre-season Sepang pace-setter Alex Marquez rediscovered type at certainly one of his strongest circuits to affix Bagnaia on the entrance row.
“It appears like every little thing has occurred to us this weekend. We had some points on the field, afterward I used to be not feeling 100% with the bike like we did prior to now or within the pre-season right here,” stated the Gresini rider.
“Nonetheless I am not feeling 100%, I am not feeling prepared. However the rhythm was not dangerous this morning. So we’ll strive our greatest within the Dash and see the place we’re.”
Alex is on the right track to wrap-up second on the planet championship this weekend, whereas Bagnaia is presently eight factors behind Bezzecchi in a battle for third.
The ultimate observe lengthy runs recommend Bagnaia, Marquez, Luca Marini, Morbidelli, Bezzecchi, Aldeguer, Joan Mir and Quartararo may all be Dash contenders.
Bezzecchi, who will begin simply 14th, impressed with constant tempo on very worn delicate tyres, finishing a full grand prix distance on his entrance tyre throughout FP2.
The ten-lap Dash begins at 3pm native time.
