Pecco Bagnaia took his third pole position in a row with a brilliant lap at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
The Italian, who was only 9th fastest on the combined free practice times, beat championship leader Fabio Quartararo by 0.348 seconds after improving on his final run.
While disappointed to have lost out to his last remaining realistic championship rival, Quartararo will have been pleased to have qualified second, struggling throughout the weekend after complaining that the bumpy track surface was unsafe.
By sticking his factory Yamaha on the front row, the Frenchman also extends his remarkable run of qualifying in the top three at every Grand Prix this season bar the second round in Doha, in which he came from fifth on the grid to win.
Marc Marquez will join the Frenchman on the front row for the first time this season after he put his Repsol Honda in third.
A circuit he has dominated at – prior to today, the Spaniard had started on pole at every COTA race – the eight-time world champion was struggling a little with the physicality of the track, the fast changes of direction and heavy braking zones causing difficulty for his right shoulder.
Jorge Martin, who had set the pace after the first two runs, was the first of the Pramac Ducatis in fourth, two places ahead of teammate Johann Zarco. Sandwiched in-between them was Takaaki Nakagami, the LCR Honda rider enjoying a strong qualifying session in fifth.
The two Suzukis will line up in 7th and 8th, Alex Rins, who took his maiden MotoGP win at the last US Grand Prix in 2019, ahead Joan Mir, the defending champion showing good pace after having to come through Q1.
Luca Marini will start from 9th on the grid after also progressing with Mir through Q1, only the third time the Italian rookie has done so this season.
Jack Miller rounds out the top 10 on his Ducati after a disappointing qualifying session for the Australian.
Fastest all weekend, including by half a second in the qualifying simulations in FP3, Miller had shown Bagnaia where to gain to gain time in FP4 but then failed to replicate his form when it mattered.
Further down the grid, Franco Morbidelli will start from 13th on the factory Yamaha. Still returning to fitness after an extended injury lay-off, the Italian missed out on making it to Q2 by 0.2 seconds.
His compatriot Andrea Dovizioso will start one place behind in 14th, the 15-time race winner showing improved pace in his second weekend for the Petronas Yamaha team.
Aleix Espargaro was the biggest surprise down in 19th, the Spaniard crashing four times already this weekend, including on his out lap in qualifying.
He will start one place ahead of Valentino Rossi, the Italian legend showing solid pace until he crashed on his final run.
Full Qualifying Result:
Q2
- Pecco Bagnaia – 2:02.781
- Fabio Quartararo – 2:03.129
- Marc Marquez – 2:03.209
- Jorge Martin – 2:03.278
- Takaaki Nakagami – 2:03.278
- Johann Zarco – 2:03.379
- Alex Rins – 2:03.453
- Joan Mir – 2:03.528
- Luca Marini – 2:03.546
- Jack Miller – 2:03.720
- Brad Binder – 2:03.781
- Pol Espargaro – 2:03.875
Q1
- Franco Morbidelli – 2:03.872
- Andrea Dovizioso – 2:04.044
- Alex Marquez – 2:04.044
- Enea Bastianini – 2:04.118
- Iker Lecuona – 2:04.324
- Miguel Oliveira – 2:04.392
- Aleix Espargaro – 2:04.419
- Valentino Rossi – 2:04.699
- Danilo Petrucci – 2:04.829
