MotoGP
Although he crashed near the end of Q2 Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) took pole position by almost 0.4 sec. from Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) in second and reigning World Champion Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) in third. Of the top three Rossi was the only rider not to crash during practice, both Marquez and Lorenzo falling at turn one.
Heading the second row of the starting grid in fourth spot will be Dani Pedrosa ( Repsol Honda Team) with team mates Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) and Andrea Iannone ( Ducati Team) in fifth and sixth respectively.
Following an incident in Free Practice 4 when Scott Redding (OCTO Pramac Yakhnich Ducati) had a rear tyre failure Michelin, as a safety precaution, have decided to withdraw both medium and hard rear tyres, which are of similar construction, from the race and replace them with a special tyre of different construction.
Riders will be given an additional 30 min. practice session on race-day morning to help adapt to the new tyre.
Front row:
1 Marc MARQUEZ (SPA) Repsol Honda Team Honda 1’39.411
2 Valentino ROSSI (ITA) Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha +0.375
3 Jorge LORENZO (SPA) Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha +0.533
Moto2
In a qualifying session where he was continually hindered by other riders Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) finally found some clear track at the end of the session which enabled him to take the fourth pole of his Moto2 career. Second place went to reigning Moto2 World Champion Johann Zarco (Ajo Motorsport) with Jonas Folger (Dynavolt Intact GP) third.
In fourth place on the starting grid will beTakaaki Nakagami (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) ahead of Franco Morbidelli (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS) in fifth and Qatar winner Thomas Luthi (Garage Plus Interwetten) sixth.
Front row:
1 Sam LOWES (GBR) Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 Kalex 1’43.347
2 JohannZARCO(FRA) Ajo Motorsport Kalex +0.119
3 Jonas FOLGER (GER) Dynavolt Intact GP Kalex +0.290
Moto3
Pole position went to South African Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo). This is his first ever Moto3 pole and only his second ever front row start. In second place was Romano Fenati (SKY Racing Team VR 46) with Jorge Navarro (Estrella Galicia 0,0) third.
Fourth fastest was rookie Khairul Idham Pawi (Honda Team Asia), but he was handed a penalty for slow riding and will start from seventh.
Another rookie, Nicolo Bulega (SKY Racing Team VR 46) will head the second row of the grid in fourth with Joan Mir (Leopard racing) in fifth and Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing Moto3) sixth.
Front row:
1 Brad BINDER (RSA) Red Bull KTM Ajo KTM 1’49.767
2 Romano FENATI(ITA) SKY Racing Team VR46 KTM +0.324
3 Jorge NAVARRO(SPA) Estrella Galicia 0,0 Honda +0.367
How the hell do Michelin “withdraw both medium and hard rear tyres, which are of similar construction, from the race and replace them with a special tyre of different construction” in Argentina?
Did they cart 50 or so “special tyres” with them to the other side of the world knowing their medium & hard rears were suspect?
How do they know the “specials” will last?