MotoGP Brno: Ogura Claims a Surprising Pole. Bagnaia on the Front Row; Bezzecchi and Marquez Are Neck and Neck

A first for Ai Ogura: the surprising Japanese rider from Trackhouse, Aprilia’s satellite team, claimed his first career pole position with a time of 1:51.139, breaking the track record he himself had set on Friday. Behind the Japanese rider, who has been dominant during these first two days of the Czech Republic Grand Prix in Brno, are the two Ducatis ridden by Fabio Di Giannantonio (VR46 team) and Pecco Bagnaia (Lenovo).

Starting from the second row will be Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia’s top rider and World Championship leader, Marc Marquez (Lenovo Ducati), and Diogo Moreira on a Honda. Also in the Top 10 are Ogura’s teammate Raul Fernandez, KTM rider Pedro Acosta, the other VR46 Ducati ridden by Franco Morbidelli, and Bezzecchi’s teammate Jorge Martin.

Martin, who is in the title hunt, is facing an uphill battle this weekend: in addition to starting from last position, he will also have to serve two long-lap penalties during Sunday’s race, which could leave him lagging behind the pack. Both Gresini Team riders, Fermin Aldeguer and Alex Marquez, are outside the top 10. The Sprint race starts at 3:00 p.m.

MotoGP Czech Republic Grand Prix, starting grid (top ten)
Ogura
Di Giannantonio
Bagnaia
Bezzecchi
Marc Marquez
Moreira
Fernandez
Acosta
Morbidelli
Martin