Marini sets lap record to grab pole position at Indonesia GP
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FILE PHOTO: MotoGP - TT Assen Grand Prix - TT Circuit Assen, Assen, Netherlands - June 25, 2023 Mooney VR46 Racing Team's Luca Marini in action during the MotoGP race REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw/File Photo
MANDALIKA, Indonesia - VR46 Racing's Luca Marini twice set a lap record on Saturday to capture pole position for the Indonesia Grand Prix in Mandalika, as championship leader Francesco Bagnaia failed to make it out of the first qualifying session.
Marini first set a record with a scorching lap of one minute 30.383 seconds in Q1, before topping the timesheets by improving on his own mark in Q2 with a time of 1:29.978 to earn his first-ever pole.
Aprilia duo of Maverick Vinales and Aleix Espargaro finished second and third, while Pramac Racing's Jorge Martin, just three points behind Bagnaia in the overall standings, will be disappointed to end in sixth place.
Ducati's Bagnaia cut a frustrated figure in Q1 as he appeared set to progress to Q2 after a quick final lap, but was bumped off the top two spots by his team mate Enea Bastianini and Marini. REUTERS
