Marco Bezzecchi will start the Italian Grand Prix from pole position after Aprilia locked out the front row for the first time in MotoGP history.
The championship leader set the fastest lap in Saturday’s qualifying session at Mugello, beating the Trackhouse-entered RS-GP of Raul Fernandez to the top spot.
Jorge Martin backed up their performance with third-place in qualifying, setting up an interesting three-way battle at the front in Sunday’s.
Reigning world champion Marc Marquez starred in qualifying on his return to MotoGP, ending up as the top Ducati on the grid in fourth.
He will be joined by Gresini’s Fermin Aldeguer and factory Ducati team-mate Francesco Bagnaia on the second row.
Fabio di Giannantonio could only manage seventh on the VR46 Ducati, despite topping all sessions in the build-up to qualifying. LCR rookie Diogo Moreira was the top Honda in eighth, while the top 10 was rounded out by di Giannantonio’s team-mate Franco Morbidelli and KTM’s Pedro Acosta.
Sunday’s grid will feature two substitute riders. Ducati test rider Michele Pirro will stand in for Alex Marquez at Gresini, while Cal Crutchlow returns from retirement to replace LCR’s Johann Zarco.
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