Spanish rider Pol Espargaró won motoGP’s first pole position for KTM at the Styria Grand Prix in Spielberg on Saturday, while Valentino Rossi finished 15th after an accident.
Espargaró will lead the grid for the first time with maximum elegance after completing a dazzling one-minute lap and 23,580 moments at the Red Bull Ring.
KTM has already been inspired by his speed this season with his first MotoGP win, thanks to rookie Brad Binder at Brno this month.
LCR Honda’s Takaaki Nakagami seriously threatened Espargaró’s return in his final round, but his efforts were marked by pushing the limits of the track as he settled for a moment in his career.
Johann Zarco of Avintia Ducati finished third, but will begin Sunday’s race from the pit lane after being penalized for his role in a turn of destination with Franco Morbidelli of Petronas Yamaha at last week’s Austrian Grand Prix.
This means that Suzuki’s Joan Mir, who finished fourth, will have a front row start, ahead of Pramac Ducati’s Jack Miller and Yamaha’s Maverick Vinales.
Seven-time MotoGP champion Rossi qualified only 15th on his factory Yamaha after crashing at Turn 9 in his last effort, which earned him a position in Q2.
Last weekend’s winner, Andrea Dovizioso, qualified ninth for Ducati, while championship leader Fabio Quartararo fell to tenth on his Yamaha Petronas. (Report via Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru, edited via Pritha Sarkar)
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