Alex Marquez Breaks Lap Record Secures Pole At Catalan Grand Prix

Alex Marquez delivered a stunning performance by claiming pole position at the Catalan Grand Prix with a new lap record of 1:37.536, marking his first pole in nearly 900 days. He outpaced Yamaha's Fabio Quartararo, who had earlier set a provisional lap record in Q1, and his elder brother Marc Marquez, the current championship leader. Despite Marc's strong qualifying pace, a front-end scare at Turn 5 forced him to abandon a final lap attempt, leaving him third on the grid. Notably, Ducati's Francesco Bagnaia, a championship contender, struggled significantly, qualifying 21st and missing the chance to compete for top positions. The front row, dominated by the Marquez brothers and Quartararo, sets the stage for an intense race weekend with the younger Marquez eager to convert his pole into a strong race result. Other notable qualifiers included Franco Morbidelli and Pedro Acosta, who finished just behind the front runners after a track limits penalty nullified Acosta's provisional record lap.